Solyndra on Wednesday announced the shocker that it is heading into bankruptcy and will be laying off 1,100 workers. I’ve been covering the company steadily over the past four years, and particularly since it was the flagship recipient of the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program in 2009. I covered the company’s factory ground breaking in September 2009 — which featured Vice President Joe Biden, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and DOE Energy Secretary Steven Chu — and visited the factory back in April of this year.
Here’s a trip down memory lane in photos:
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1 / 16Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009 -
2 / 16Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009, featuring a live video feed of Vice President Joe Biden. Image courtesy of Katie Fehrenbacher, Gigaom. -
3 / 16Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2008 -
4 / 16Solyndra ground breaking ceremony in 2009Solyndra ground breaking ceremony in 2009 -
5 / 16Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009Solyndra's ground breaking ceremony in 2009 -
6 / 16Solyndra's FactorySolyndra's Factory in 2011. -
7 / 16Solyndra's rooftop is covered in its panelsSolyndra's rooftop is covered in its panels -
8 / 16Solyndra's rooftop at its factorySolyndra's rooftop at its factory -
9 / 16Solyndra's tube shaped panels up closeSolyndra's tube shaped panels up close -
10 / 16Solyndra's factory floor in AprilSolyndra's factory floor in April, 2011. -
11 / 16Racks of panels at Solyndra's factory in AprilRacks of panels at Solyndra's factory in April -
12 / 16At Solyndra's factory, light testing of the panelsAt Solyndra's factory, light testing of the panels -
13 / 16Workers inspecting panels in Solyndra's factory in AprilWorkers inspecting panels in Solyndra's factory in April -
14 / 16High tech robots moved Solyndra panels down the assembly lineHigh tech robots moved Solyndra panels down the assembly line -
15 / 16Workers inspecting solar panels at Solyndra's factory in AprilWorkers inspecting solar panels at Solyndra's factory in April -
16 / 16solyndrafactory26

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