The correct answer is D. lay off.
To lay off someone means to stop employing them, usually because the company is not doing well financially. In the context of the question, the factories are being forced to lay off workers because they do not have enough power to operate their machines.
The other options are incorrect because they do not make sense in the context of the question. To throw away someone means to get rid of them, which is not what the factories are doing. To send off someone means to let them go, which is not what the factories are doing either. To put off someone means to postpone something, which is also not what the factories are doing.
In conclusion, the correct answer is D. lay off.