Tri-Cities firm lays off 100+ workers. Once solar success story pulls plug on WA

Solgen Power, once one of the Tri-Cities’ fastest growing companies, is laying off its local staff as it leaves Washington.

Solgen Power LLC, which merged with Oregon-based Purelight Power, is laying off 104 workers in Washington effective Jan. 13., according to a notice filed Friday with the state Employment Security Department, as required by the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN Act.

The layoffs affect 43 workers at Solgen’s Pasco office and 17 workers at its warehouse in Richland. Other layoffs affect workers at sales offices in Spokane, Lakewood, Kent and Everett and a warehouse in Fife.

Solgen Power was formed in 2017 by a trio of Tri-Cities natives and quickly emerged as one of the region’s fastest-growing companies as customers signed up for its no-money-down solar systems for their homes.

Solgen marketed products to homeowners that let them use power bill savings, energy rebates and tax incentives to cover the cost of their solar systems.

In 2019, it broke ground on its multi-million dollar building off Sandifur Parkway and said it would add 100 jobs. At the time, it was operating in seven states.

This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 5:38 PM.