Toxic waste casts cloud on Massachusetts solar co.

 

By Christine McConville
Friday, July 3, 2009

Evergreen Solar Inc., one of Massachusetts’ rising green energy stars, is on its way to becoming one of the state’s top producers of hazardous waste.

The company generated more than a million pounds of hazardous waste last year, according to a report filed this week with the state Department of Environmental Protection, even though its new $450 million factory in Devens wasn’t operating at full capacity.

Evergreen Solar Inc., one of Massachusetts rising green energy stars, generated more than a million pounds of hazardous waste last year, according to a report filed recently with the state Department of Environmental Protection. The company's report for 2008 shows that it created nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and sodium hydroxide. The plant is operating at 40 percent capacity. When the company's Devens plant is running at full capacity and making some 780,000 solar panels a year, it could be among the state's top three creators of hazardous waste.

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