While the sun might be a constant source of light and heat apparently even constant Massachusetts government green dollars--$58,000,000 of them--couldn't guarantee Evergreen Solar Company customers and a profit.

So just two years after opening a solar energy plant with great fanfare--and even greater state subsidies--the plant is closing and with it 800 jobs reports Todd Wallack of the Boston Globe.

Why?

calling itself a victim of weak demand and competition from cheaper suppliers in China, where the government provides solar companies with generous subsidies.

Evergreen itself has a factory in Wuhan, China, built in collaboration with a Chinese company, Jiawei Solarchina Co. Ltd., and with money from a Chinese government investment fund. The company had previously said it would shift some production from Devens to the Wuhan plant but yesterday was the first time it said Devens would be closed.

In the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Patrick was heavily criticized by his rivals for providing so much public aid to a company during tight fiscal times. One mark of the sensitivity of the issue: Evergreen yesterday requested that the State Police provide four troopers for security at the Devens plant until it closes, two Massachusetts officials said.