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Communities Devastated By Clean Energy Layoffs And Trump’s Energy Policies

Last Updated: 6/15/26

Solar Companies Lay Off Workers And Pause Investment Plans In North Georgia Communities They Were Poised To Revitalize

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QCells Laid Off 300 Workers And Cut Pay And Hours For 1,000 Workers Due To Customs And Border Protection Delays

Summary: In November 2025, QCells announced it would lay off 300 workers from its plants in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia, and temporarily reduce pay and working hours for an additional 1,000 workers. Those 1,000 workers returned to work in March 2026. The company attributed the layoffs and hour cuts to supply chain issues caused by delays at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which has been detaining the company’s imported components at a higher rate. Customs and Border Protection stepped up enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which caused QCell imports to be delayed. QCells maintains that none of its materials or components were made with forced labor or even sourced from China. 

Community Impact

Northwest Georgia had struggled to attract good-paying manufacturing jobs. For example, Dalton, located near the Georgia-Tennessee border, was the center of global carpeting manufacturing until the 2009 economic crisis caused massive job losses and shifted production overseas. The industry never bounced back, and the city lost 40 percent of its carpeting jobs between 2005 and 2023. 

That changed when QCells announced new investments in the region and planned to create 3,800 direct jobs across Bartow and Whitfield counties while supporting nearly 3,000 additional indirect jobs in surrounding communities. QCells said the passage of the IRA was “crucial” to its success and decision to expand manufacturing in the U.S.

However, that growth is now being reversed due to the Trump administration. In November 2025, QCells announced it would lay off 300 workers from its plants in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia. These layoffs were attributed to supply chain challenges from increased enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act by the Trump administration. QCells maintains that none of its materials or components were made with forced labor or even sourced from China. 

Lansing, Michigan, Loses Two Federal Grants To Revitalize The City’s Manufacturing Sector

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General Motors Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Conversion Grant For Grand River Assembly Plant Canceled

Summary: In October 2025, General Motors’ grant to support the conversion of its Grand River plant to EV assembly was canceled. The $500 million grant, combined with $900.6 million in non-federal funding, was expected to allow GM to retain 650 union jobs at the facility and create at least 50 new jobs. 

RG Resource Integrated Solar Panel And Thermal Capture Manufacturing Grant Canceled

Summary: In October 2025, RG Resource’s grant to support the development of a manufacturing facility for the company’s integrated solar photovoltaic and thermal capture panels was canceled. The $5.1 million grant, combined with $6.5 million in non-federal funding, was expected to support a 120,000 units-per-year manufacturing facility. The manufacturing facility, announced through PowerPanel, was expected to be located in Lansing, Michigan, and create over 150 new jobs.

Community Impact

Auto manufacturing provided a stable base for Lansing, Michigan’s economy for decades. Michigan’s first auto manufacturing facility was located in the city, and the Lansing area has been home to two major GM manufacturing facilities since the early 2000s. Lansing’s economy has diversified, but auto manufacturing has provided “stability” for the region’s overall economy. The Inflation Reduction Act included key grants to encourage clean energy manufacturing in the region; their cancellation is imperiling new manufacturing investments in the city.

In October 2025, General Motors’ grant to support the conversion of its Grand River plant to EV assembly was canceled.  When the grant was first announced, Lansing’s Mayor, Andy Schor, said the investment meant that “Lansing will continue to put the world on wheels, now and for decades into the future.” Now, that future is uncertain. The $500 million grant, combined with $900.6 million in non-federal funding, was expected to allow GM to retain 650 union jobs at the facility and create at least 50 new jobs.

The U.S. Department of Energy also canceled a grant to RG Resource, doing business as PowerPanel, in October 2025. The $5.1 million grant, combined with $6.5 million in non-federal funding, was expected to support a 120,000 units-per-year manufacturing facility. PowerPanel aimed to create 150 manufacturing jobs in Lansing with the support of federal funding.

Lordstown, Ohio, Devastated By Layoffs At General Motors Battery Plant Caused By Trump’s Anti-EV Policies

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GM Laid Off 550 At Ultium Battery Manufacturing Facility

Summary: In October 2025, GM announced it would cut 550 jobs at its Ultium battery manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio. An additional 850 workers at the facility were temporarily laid off. GM attributed the cuts to “slower near-term EV adoption and an evolving regulatory environment.” GM also planned to temporarily pause operations at the battery factory starting in January 2026.

Community Impact

In 2017, President Trump promised workers in Youngstown, Ohio, that he would bring manufacturing jobs back to the region, telling them, “Don’t move. Don’t sell your house.” Workers took that promise seriously. The growing clean energy economy, not President Trump’s policies, brought jobs back to Lordstown. In 2019, GM and LG Energy Solutions formed a joint venture for EV batteries, called Ultium Cells, and announced that Ultium would open a battery manufacturing facility in Lordstown. 

Ultium Cells was poised for growth in Lordstown. The battery plant created over 1,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs. This growth was further supported by the Biden administration – the plant’s growth was bolstered by EV tax credits and a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.

However, Trump’s policies are reversing this growth. In October 2025, GM announced it would permanently cut 550 jobs at the facility and temporarily lay off an additional 850 workers. GM also planned to temporarily pause operations at the battery factory starting in January 2026. GM attributed the cuts to “slower near-term EV adoption and an evolving regulatory environment.”

The Prysmian Group Canceled A Planned Clean Energy Manufacturing Facility In Somerset, Massachusetts, That Was Expected To Be The Center Of The Town’s Economy For Generations

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Prysmian Group Brayton Point Offshore Wind Cable Plant Canceled

Summary: In January 2025, the Prysmian Group announced it would no longer pursue permits for its planned $200 million offshore wind cable plant in Somerset, Massachusetts. The factory was projected to employ 250 workers at the site of a former coal power plant, helping restore a lost economic driver in the community. Massachusetts Representative Jake Auchincloss argued that President Trump’smoratorium on offshore wind caused the Prysmian Group to pull back investment.

EDP Renewables Delayed SouthCoast Offshore Wind

Summary: In February 2025, EDP Renewables shared that it was planning a four-year delay for its SouthCoast offshore wind project near Massachusetts. The company attributed the delay to Trump’s freeze on new wind permits and a review of existing permits. Development of SouthCoast Wind supported 530 jobs, and the project’s construction was projected to create 5,760 new jobs. 

Community Impact

In January 2025, the Prysmian Group announced it would no longer pursue permits for its planned $200 million offshore wind cable plant in Somerset, Massachusetts. The factory was projected to employ 250 workers at the site of a former coal power plant, helping restore a lost economic driver in the community. Massachusetts Representative Jake Auchincloss argued that President Trump’s moratorium on offshore wind caused the Prysmian Group to pull back investment.

The cancellation leaves a gaping hole in the city’s revitalization plans. The town of Somerset had expected the plant to generate $8 to $14 million in annual tax revenue once the facility was running, a tenfold increase over what the current property owner pays. That tax income would fill a hole in the town’s tax revenue left by the closure of two coal-fired power plants that used to operate at Brayton Point. Somerset Board of Selectmen Chair Jamison Souza said the community is now starting from scratch, as they believed the investment would be the center of the town’s economy for generations.

Souza said the town was also “in conversations with SouthCoast Wind” to develop at the site. However, those conversations are likely frozen as EDP Renewables announced it was delaying SouthCoast Wind for four years due to President Trump’s freeze on new wind permits and a review of existing permits. The development of SouthCoast Wind supported 530 jobs, and the project’s construction was projected to create 5,760 new jobs.

New York Offshore Wind Cancellations Result In Lost Job Training Programs

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Arthur Kill Terminal For Offshore Wind Grant Canceled By Trump Administration

Summary: In August 2025, the Trump administration withdrew a $48 million grant to the planned Arthur Kill Terminal in Staten Island, New York. The terminal would have served as a specialized port to assemble and stage offshore wind turbines and towers before they were brought out to sea for installation. The facility was expected to support 750 union jobs during its construction.

BP Sold Site Of Astoria Gateway For Beacon Wind

Summary: In July 2025, Beacon Wind, an affiliate of BP, sold the site of its planned Astoria Gateway for Renewable Energy to New York’s Power Authority. The investment would have created offshore wind and renewable energy job opportunities for youth in underserved communities. Beacon Wind had planned to invest $215 million in the site.

Community Impact

New York’s planned offshore wind investments didn’t only promise reliable, low-cost energy. These offshore wind infrastructure investments were also planned to support job training programs for local communities.

The Arthur Kill Terminal for Offshore Wind was expected to serve as a specialized port to assemble and stage offshore wind turbines and towers before they were brought out to sea for installation. However, the Trump administration withdrew a $48 million grant to the Staten Island terminal in August 2025. The facility was expected to support 750 union jobs during its construction. The Terminal was also expected to support local educational, professional, and workforce training programs at the College of Staten Island and ensure Staten Islanders had the skills needed to secure well-paying jobs at the facility.

The Astoria Gateway for Renewable Energy was expected to connect Beacon Wind to New York’s electric grid and support a Technology and Media Center to provide science and technology education for local youth. However, Beacon Wind sold the site in July 2025. The site was expected to support offshore wind and renewable energy job opportunities for youth in underserved communities. 

Edgecombe County, North Carolina, Lost A Clean Energy Manufacturing  Project That Was Expected To Revitalize The Area

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Natron Energy Shut Down, Canceling Planned Battery Manufacturing Facility

Summary: In September 2025, Natron Energy announced it was shutting down and would no longer open or operate its planned battery manufacturing facility in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Natron faced troubles due to tariff headwinds and expanded “foreign entity of concern” restrictions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Natron’s manufacturing facility was expected to drive $1.4 billion in investment and support 1,062 jobs. 

Community Impact

Edgecomb County has the third-highest unemployment rate in the state and is suffering from population decline as young people leave to seek better economic opportunities. New clean energy investments are creating good-paying jobs and supporting workforce training programs that can revitalize the community.

Natron Energy announced it planned to open a sodium-ion battery factory in Edgecombe County in August 2024. The factory was expected to create 1,000 local jobs with job training support from Edgecombe Community College. However, Natron Energy announced it was shutting down in September 2025 and no longer moving forward with the facility. Natron faced troubles due to tariff headwinds and expanded “foreign entity of concern” restrictions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Tariffs And Market Challenges Turn Manufacturing Growth In The Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, To Layoffs

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Mack Trucks Laid Off 350 Workers In Macungie Following Trump’s Tariffs And Regulatory Uncertainty

Summary: In April 2025, Mack Trucks announced it would lay off 350 workers at its Macungie, Pennsylvania, manufacturing facility. Mack Trucks blamed the layoffs on market uncertainty, possible regulatory changes, and tariffs, which all slowed heavy-duty truck orders. The workers were represented by the UAW. 

Gardner Cryogenics Laid Off 14 Employees In Upper Macungie Township

Summary: In September 2025, Gardner Cryogenics, a subsidiary of Air Products, announced it would cut 14 jobs at its Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, facility. The facility produced storage tanks used to transport liquid hydrogen globally. A spokesperson for Air Products confirmed the cuts and said that more employees were expected to be impacted by the end of the year. The impacted workers were members of Teamsters Local 773. The union attributed the layoffs to the “country’s shift away from clean energy production with working families forced to pay for political and corporate decisions.” Air Products said the layoffs were caused by a downturn in orders and a lower-than-expected short-term order forecast. 

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. Grant For Ultra-Cryopump Canceled

Summary: In October 2025, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. $1.6 million federal grant for developing an ultra-cryopump for high-demand transportation fueling was canceled by the Trump administration. The project was also expected to receive over $400,000 in non-federal funding. 

Community Impact

In April 2025, Mack Trucks announced it would lay off 350 workers at its Macungie, Pennsylvania, manufacturing facility. Mack Trucks blamed the layoffs on market uncertainty, possible regulatory changes, and tariffs, which all slowed heavy-duty truck orders. 

The workers were represented by the UAW. UAW President Shawn Fain criticized the company’s decision to proceed with layoffs as its parent company, Stellantis, considered a $2.6 billion share buyback program. State Representative Josh Siegel said that the “community cannot afford to lose” these good-paying, union jobs. 

The layoffs at the facility reverse previous plans to expand the facility for EV manufacturing. Mack Trucks’ parent company, Volvo, received a $208 million grant funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to convert the manufacturing facility to produce electric trucks at the site. The grant was expected to enable Volvo to retain 7,900 workers at the Macungie facility and a second facility in Virginia.

It’s not just EV manufacturers that are struggling. In September 2025, Gardner Cryogenics, a subsidiary of Air Products, announced it would cut 14 jobs at its Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, facility, where it produced storage tanks for liquid hydrogen. Teamsters Local 773, which represented workers at the facility, attributed the layoffs to the “country’s shift away from clean energy production with working families forced to pay for political and corporate decisions.” And in October 2025, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. $1.6 million federal grant for developing an ultra-cryopump for high-demand transportation fueling was canceled by the Trump administration. The project was also expected to receive over $400,000 in non-federal funding.

Clean Manufacturing Facilities That Were Poised To Revitalize Sumter County, South Carolina, Were Canceled

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Solar4American Canceled Planned Sumter Manufacturing Facility

Summary: In April 2025, Solar4America canceled plans to open a solar cell manufacturing facility in Sumter, South Carolina. The company had planned to invest $65.9 million to open the facility, which was supposed to employ 300 people. The company’s former vice president of sales said the demand boost from the Inflation Reduction Act was not enough to keep sales from “becoming bumpy.”

Community Impact

Sumter County, South Carolina, is less wealthy and less employed than the state average. The county has also struggled to attract new industries that could help revitalize the area. New clean energy investments were poised to bring new, good-paying jobs to the county, but are no longer planning to set up shop because of the Trump administration’s anti-clean energy policies. 

In April 2025, Solar4America canceled plans to open a solar cell manufacturing facility in Sumter, South Carolina. The company had planned to invest $65.9 million to open the facility, which was supposed to employ 300 people. Local leaders had heralded the company’s decision to invest in Sumter – City of Sumter Mayor David Merchant was “thrilled” about the company’s decision and “enthusiastic about the corporate investment and jobs that will be a result of this project.” The company’s former vice president of sales said the demand boost from the Inflation Reduction Act was not enough to keep sales from “becoming bumpy.” 

Solar Company Closure Caused Hundreds Of Job Losses In Asheville, North Carolina

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Solar Company Blue Ridge Power Laid Off 517 Workers And Planned To End Its Business

Summary: In September 2025, Blue Ridge Power, a solar engineering and procurement company, announced it would lay off 517 workers in Asheville and Fayetteville, North Carolina, as it closed its business. The company is a unit of Pine Gate Renewables and serves as Pine Gate’s engineering, procurement, and construction company. Blue Ridge Power said it would eliminate 348 positions in Fayetteville and 169 in Asheville. The company attributed the closure to “market headwinds similar to those impacting the entire renewable energy industry,” including the repeal of clean energy tax incentives and anti-clean energy federal regulations. Earlier in September 2025, Pine Gate Renewables was consulting its advisers regarding its liquidity challenges caused by the Trump administration’s anti-clean energy policies.

Pine Gate Renewables Filed For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Summary: In November 2025, Pine Gate Renewables announced it had initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The Asheville, North Carolina-based renewable energy company planned to sell its assets and operations, including over 30 gigawatts of solar power that the company is currently developing. Pine Gate Renewables laid off 223 employees in Asheville, North Carolina, as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. The bankruptcy filing was linked to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s repeal of clean energy tax credits and the Trump administration’s opposition to the clean energy industry.

Community Impact

Asheville, North Carolina, was devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2025. Now the community, still physically recovering from storm damage, is losing good-paying clean energy jobs because of the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy.

In September 2025, Blue Ridge Power, a solar engineering and procurement company, announced it would lay off 169 of its workers in Asheville. The company is a unit of Pine Gate Renewables and serves as Pine Gate’s engineering, procurement, and construction company. The company attributed the closure to “market headwinds similar to those impacting the entire renewable energy industry,” including the repeal of clean energy tax incentives and anti-clean energy federal regulations. Earlier in September 2025, Pine Gate Renewables was consulting its advisers regarding its liquidity challenges caused by the Trump administration’s anti-clean energy policies.

In November 2025, Pine Gate Renewables announced it had initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The Asheville, North Carolina-based renewable energy company planned to sell its assets and operations, including over 30 gigawatts of solar power that the company is currently developing. Pine Gate Renewables laid off 223 employees in Asheville, North Carolina, as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. The bankruptcy filing was linked to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s repeal of clean energy tax credits and the Trump administration’s opposition to the clean energy industry.

BlueOval SK’s Closure In Kentucky Left Workers In A Lurch

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BlueOval SK Dissolved And Laid Off 1,500 Workers

Summary: In December 2025, BlueOval SK announced that the company would be dissolving and that all 1,514 employees at its Glendale, Kentucky, manufacturing facility would be laid off. BlueOval SK was a joint venture between Ford and SK On that manufactured EV batteries in Glendale, Kentucky. Workers blamed the plant’s closure on headwinds in the EV industry. The EV battery plant was initially expected to hire 5,000 workers. Ford is retooling the facility to produce battery energy storage systems and plans to restart production at the site in 18 months. 

Summary

In December 2025, BlueOval SK announced that the company would be dissolving and that all 1,514 employees at its Glendale, Kentucky, manufacturing facility would be laid off. BlueOval SK was a joint venture between Ford and SK On that manufactured EV batteries in Glendale, Kentucky. The EV battery plant was initially expected to hire 5,000 workers. Ford is retooling the facility to produce battery energy storage systems and plans to restart production at the site in 18 months. 

BlueOval SK’s planned investment was the largest economic development project Kentucky had ever seen. Hardin County, where Glendale is located, was projected to grow by 22,000 residents due to the investment. The county invested accordingly in infrastructure upgrades that are now unnecessary due to the smaller projected footprint of Ford’s planned grid-scale battery storage manufacturing facility. And, newly built apartment complexes will likely sit empty because their monthly rents were only affordable for BlueOval SK workers, who were paid higher than the County’s average wage.

The “abrupt end” of the project left plant employees in a lurch. Workers flocked to the plant because of Ford’s history and reputation, with some even moving from out of state or leaving higher-paying roles to work at BlueOval SK. Employees “really, truly believed in BlueOval,” according to Sandie Yarborough, a cell assembly worker at the facility, who added that many of her fellow employees planned to retire from the facility. Now, former employees are struggling to afford housing after their pay and benefits ended on February 14. Workers blamed the plant’s closure on headwinds in the EV industry.

The Trump Administration’s Cancellation Of A Loan To The Arizona Public Service Company Will Increase Energy Bills

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Arizona Public Service Company’s Loan To Expand Renewables Deployment Canceled By The Trump Administration

Summary: In January 2026, the Arizona Public Service Company’s (APS) $1.81 billion conditional loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office was canceled. The conditional loan commitment, initially offered in January 2025, was paused by the Trump administration later that month. The loan guarantee would have financed APS’ investments in new or upgraded transmission projects, renewable power generation, and grid-integrated energy storage systems. These upgrades were expected to create about 960 construction jobs and 20 operations jobs. The projects were expected to save APS customers $250 million over the lifetime of the loan guarantee and bolster the reliability of APS’s grid operations. The loan would also support APS’s goals of delivering 100 percent clean and carbon-free electricity by 2050, including exiting coal-fired generation in 2031, including the addition of 150 megawatts of energy storage capacity. APS was committed to providing financial support for communities impacted by its planned exit from coal generation and partnered with Arizona State University to support the university’s Indigenous Leadership Academy. The loan was authorized through the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program, which was established by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Summary

In January 2026, the Arizona Public Service Company’s (APS) $1.81 billion conditional loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office was canceled. APS is Arizona’s largest energy company and serves 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of the state’s 14 counties. The conditional loan commitment, initially offered in January 2025, was paused by the Trump administration later that month before it was eventually canceled a year later. The loan guarantee would have financed APS’s investments in new or upgraded transmission projects, renewable power generation, and grid-integrated energy storage systems. These upgrades were expected to create about 960 construction jobs and 20 operations jobs. The loan would also support APS’s goals of delivering 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity by 2050, including exiting coal-fired generation in 2031 and adding 150 megawatts of energy storage capacity. 

APS is already hiking its rates for customers. The company requested a 14% rate hike for residential customers in November 2025, which would raise the average household’s monthly bill by about $20. This loan program would have lowered APS’s debt burden for needed transmission upgrades, reducing upward pressure on electricity rates. It was also expected to save APS customers $250 million over the lifetime of the loan guarantee. Now, APS customers will likely see their bills continue to rise as the company faces a higher debt burden and interest rate for its needed infrastructure updates. 

Centre County Loses Solar Project That Would Have Saved Millions In Energy Costs, Thanks To The Repeal Of Clean Energy Tax Credits

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Prospect 14 Canceled Solar Power Purchase Agreement With The Centre County Solar Group

Summary: In February 2026, Prospect 14 canceled a planned solar power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Centre County Solar Group. If completed, the PPA would have supported the construction of a solar array in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Prospect 14 cited alterations to the project’s finances caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s repeal of solar energy tax credits and the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy as the reason for the cancellation. The Centre County Solar Group, consisting of SCASD, State College Borough, College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton Townships, the State College Borough Water Authority, College Township Water Authority, Centre County Government and the Centre Region Council of Governments, had expected to save over $1 million in collective energy costs through the 15-year agreement. 

Summary

Local municipalities and entities in Centre County had planned a “historic undertaking” to lower their electricity bills by developing a solar array. The Centre County Solar Group, which included the county government, State College Borough, and the State College School District, had hoped to pool its purchasing power to take advantage of federal incentives for renewable energy projects that would lower its electricity bills by over $1 million in 15 years. The group signed a power purchase agreement with Prospect 14 to buy power from a solar array in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

However, that undertaking collapsed in February 2026, when Prospect 14 canceled the PPA. Prospect 14 cited alterations to the project’s finances caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s repeal of solar energy tax credits and the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy as the reason for the cancellation.

SK Battery’s Layoffs Threatening Growth In Jackson County

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SK Battery Laid Off Georgia Workers

Summary: In March 2026, SK Battery America laid off 958 employees at its Commerce, Georgia, manufacturing plant. SK Battery America said the layoffs were made to “align operations to market conditions.” Sen. Jon Ossoff attributed the layoffs to “Trump’s war on electric vehicles,” and the press linked the closure to the Trump administration’s withdrawal of federal support for EVs and support for the oil and gas industry. The impacted factory supplied EV batteries for vehicles, including the Ford F-15o Lightning, which was canceled in December 2025. 

Summary

Jackson County, Georgia, was the fourth-fastest-growing county in the nation in 2024. That population growth has been driven by new economic opportunities, which have helped keep the county’s unemployment rate below the national average. However, that growth is now at risk because of President Trump’s attacks on EVs.

In March 2026, SK Battery Americalaid off 958 employees at its Commerce, Georgia, manufacturing plant. SK Battery Americasaid the layoffs were made to “align operations to market conditions.” Sen. Jon Ossoffattributed the layoffs to “Trump’s war on electric vehicles,” and the presslinked the closure to the Trump administration’s withdrawal of federal support for EVs and support for the oil and gas industry. 

Jackson County considered SK Battery’s Commerce factory a core part of its growth strategy. Following the announcement of layoffs, Jackson County Commission Chairman Marty Clark said the layoffs are “difficult news for our community.” 

Southern New Jersey’s Economic Revitalization Threatened By Offshore Wind Reversals

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EEW American Offshore Structures Filed For Bankruptcy

Summary: In April 2026, EEW American Offshore Structures and EEW AOS Paulsboro Urban Renewal filed for bankruptcy protection. The group also faced eviction from its planned factory. The two companies, subsidiaries of Germany’s EEW Group, manufactured monopiles, the foundations that support offshore wind turbines, at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in New Jersey. The facility was expected to create more than 500 jobs at full capacity. However, the company faced headwinds from political attacks on offshore wind and rising costs, leading developers to cancel projects and, in turn, their contracts with EEW.

Summary

The South Jersey region has historically been overlooked for economic opportunities. In 2020, then-New Jersey Governor Murphy announced an investment to support the establishment of offshore wind construction sites to create good-paying jobs and drive much-needed investment in the region. Paulsboro’s mayor, Gary Stevenson, said the port would be a “utopia” for the town by creating jobs to support local businesses. 

A portion of that investment supported EEW American Group’s planned monopile manufacturing facility at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Paulsboro, New Jersey. Monopiles are the foundations that support offshore wind turbines. EEW American Offshore Structures planned to create more than 500 jobs at the port, but those jobs never materialized.

EEW’s fate, and the fate of the port investments, was partly doomed by attacks on the offshore wind industry. The company was contracted to supply monopile foundations to the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project, which lost its permit due to an executive order from President Trump. This economically troubled region is now forced to seek new economic and job creation opportunities.

Albuquerque’s Advanced Energy Manufacturing Leadership Threatened By The Trump Administration’s Attacks On Clean Energy

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Maxeon Canceled Plans To Build A Solar Manufacturing Facility

Summary: In February 2026, Maxeon announced it had abandoned its lease at a manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it had planned to build solar panels. The company planned to invest $2.4 billion in the factory, which was expected to support 11,720 local construction jobs and create up to 1,800 highly skilled manufacturing jobs when operational.

Ebon Solar Canceled Planned Manufacturing Facility

Summary: In May 2026, Ebon Solar canceled plans to open a solar manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A spokesperson for Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department attributed Ebon Solar’s cancellation to “federal policy constraints and CFIUS-related (Committee on Foreign Investment) considerations.” Ebon had planned to invest $942 million in the factory, which was expected to create 900 permanent jobs manufacturing solar cells and support 2,665 construction jobs.

Summary

New Mexico, whose economy historically centered on oil and gas production, was making strides to attract good-paying jobs in clean energy. Now, the Trump administration’s attacks on the industry are threatening that progress. 

The first setback to New Mexico’s progress came in February 2026, when Maxeon announced it had abandoned its lease at a manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, where it had planned to build solar panels. The company planned to invest $2.4 billion in the factory, which was expected to support 11,720 local construction jobs and create up to 1,800 highly skilled manufacturing jobs when operational. Maxeon had attributed its decision to invest in New Mexico to the Inflation Reduction Act, which the company’s CEO said had “catalyzed a new chapter in America’s energy transition.”

In May 2026, Ebon Solar abandoned plans to open a solar panel manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ebon attributed the project’s cancellation to “federal policy constraints and CFIUS-related [Committee on Foreign Investment] considerations.” If completed, the project was expected to create 900 jobs manufacturing solar cells and support 2,665 construction jobs. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller celebrated the investment when it was first announced in 2024, saying the $942 million factory meant “more high-paying jobs for locals.”