In an emotionally charged statement released Wednesday, SolarCity chief executive Lyndon Rive calls the layoffs “the hardest thing we’ve ever done”.

Rive predicts other solar companies will lay off “thousands more workers” in sunny Nevada in the coming months as a result of the state's decision on net metering.

Rive says he has contacted Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval “multiple times” to discuss the situation, but has not yet been given an audience.

SolarCity