Not long ago, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick was calling Evergreen Solar a "symbol" of his state's economic future. Symbolism would appear to be overrated.

Evergreen announced last week that it is shutting its Massachusetts plant and will lay off 800 workers. That's the same plant Mr. Patrick had state taxpayers fund in 2007 to the tune of $58 million in grants, loans and land and tax incentives—one of the largest investments in a private company in Bay State history. Remind us not to let the...