First Solar Invests $330M in New South Carolina Manufacturing Facility

First Solar, Inc. announced plans to build a new facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, that will bring the final stages of its solar module production back to the U.S.  

The new site will complete Series 6 Plus panels that begin manufacturing at the company’s international facilities. 

It will cost approximately $330 million to establish the facility, with commercial operations expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The company anticipates it will create over 600 new manufacturing jobs. 

It will increase First Solar’s capacity to produce domestically-made solar technology that fully complies with the anticipated Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidance, by 3.7 gigawatts (GW), reaching 17.7 GW of annual nameplate capacity in 2027. 

The facility will expand First Solar’s presence in South Carolina, where it currently has a distribution center.  

“South Carolina is proud to be a destination for innovative energy companies that are powering our country with American technology,” said Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina, in a statement. “First Solar’s investment will create 600 new jobs in Cherokee County, which will greatly strengthen the local economy and help advance America’s energy independence. Their expanded presence in our state will provide even more opportunities for hardworking South Carolinians.” 

Mark Widmar, chief executive officer at First Solar, added, “The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Administration’s trade policies boosted demand for American energy technology, requiring a timely, agile response that allows us to meet the moment. We expect that this new facility will enable us to serve the US market with technology that is compliant with the Act’s stringent provisions, within timelines that align with our customers’ objectives.” 

First Solar plans to invest approximately $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure by the end of 2026. 

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