the SOLARII feasibility generator, which was a solar-powered energy plant that could produce electricity 24 hours a day. This was done by heating molten salts that would hold the heat during the day and would be used to generate power at night. Dr. John Jurewitz served as Director of Regulatory Policy for Southern California Edison for 15 years until his retirement in July 2007. His major areas of research are in oil, gas, and electricity policy and greenhouse gas regulation. He has testified and participated in government-sponsored proceedings addressing electric industry restructuring and energy policy at the state, federal, and international levels. In November, 2014, SCE announced a partnership with Ice Energy to provide more efficient energy storage by freezing water at night when electricity is cheaper. (Ice Energy filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in December 2019.) Labor practice controversy In April 2015, Southern California Edison laid off about 400 IT employees, with an additional 100 IT workers leaving voluntarily. Meanwhile, the utility company hired immigrants from India through Infosys, based in Bangalore, and Tata Consultancy Services in Mumbai, which are among the largest users of H-1B visas. About 70% of the work to be done by Tata and Infosys will be completed offshore, according to SCE. The company claimed it had to lay off US-based employees to stay competitive. The layoffs were questioned by members of the United States Senate. SCE was subsequently investigated by the US Department of Labor for potential H1-B visa abuse. In October, Department of Labor concluded Infosys did not abuse the H1-B program in the dealings with SCE, while Tata's case remained open. See also Energy use in California Solar power plants in the Mojave Desert Wind power in California List of articles associated with nuclear issues in California References External links Southern California Edison website SCE Launches 250-MW Solar Project Southern California Edison’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Technical Center in Pomona, California Energy in California Electric power companies of the United States Electric power transmission system operators in the United States Hydroelectric power companies of the United States Nuclear power companies of the United States Southern California Companies based in Los Angeles County, California Rosemead, California Energy companies established in 1908 1908 establishments in California Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Superfund sites in California American companies established in 1908