Remember Hemlock Semiconductor? That’s the company that hauled in a massive taxpayer subsidy to open a solar installation plant in Clarksville. Not long after, the company shuttered the plant and laid off most of its Tennessee employees due to “volatile” markets in China. To date, about $95 million of the corporate welfare doled out to the company is still outstanding and can’t be recouped by taxpayers. Despite the setback, state and company officials said they were committed to eventually opening the plant and following through with the jobs promised in exchange for the taxpayer handout. Wrong. The company just announced that it is closing the plant permanently. Unfortunately for Tennessee taxpayers, they took that whole “take the money and run” song too literally. -Justin Owen
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