A manufacturer at Strathcona Energy Group in Belleville makes solar panels. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
A local solar manufacturing company is laying off almost half of its employees in light of the province’s plans to cancel signing another $3.8 billion in renewable energy contracts.
In September, the Liberal government announced it was axing plans for more wind and solar power as it started to feel the heat over electricity bills two years ahead of the next provincial election.
Strathcona Energy Group Vice President Kelly Rumble explained due to the cancellation of the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP II) program it was necessary to restructure the company laying off 20 full-time employees. The 250 Sidney Street location employed 50 to 60 people prior to the layoff Rumble said.
Rumble said the company invested $5 million in LRP II.
(L-R) Belleville mayor Taso Christopher, Hastings County Warden Rick Phillips, Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis are given a first hand look at operations at Strathcona Energy Group during a tour given by CEO Karl Hollett on Wednesday July 27, 2016. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
He said the decision to cancel the program was disappointing and set the company back six months on attaining a recent $1.95 million FedDev Ontario investment that requires them to maintain 80 employees full-time.
He added they continue to look forward to investing in Belleville adding this is a minor hiccup but it is nothing that would put the company in jeopardy.
Strathcona’s goal was to transfer its operations from Napanee to Belleville in quarters 3 and 4 of 2016, so staff that were working in Napanee are moving to Belleville as part of the company’s growth plan and future expansion goals.
At the moment Napanee is being prepared to be leased or sold as Strathcona owns the building.
