First Solar to invest $1.1 billion to build solar panel manufacturing facility in Louisiana
In Louisiana, the state government reported that First Solar announced it has selected Acadiana Regional Airport as the site of its fifth American manufacturing facility. The company said it will invest up to $1.1 billion in the facility, which will produce high-performance photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. The project is expected to be complete in the first half of 2026.
Louisiana state Governor John Bel Edwards said: “This massive investment and the jobs it will create are a huge win for the people of Acadiana and the entire state. It is proof positive that Louisiana’s ‘all-of-the-above’ approach to energy is growing and diversifying our economy.”
The Acadiana facility will be built on an LED Certified Site, meaning it has gone through extensive due diligence and studies to be declared development-ready. It will produce First Solar’s Series 7 modules, which are expected to be manufactured with 100% U.S.-made components.
“We are pleased to partner with Louisiana as we lean into our commitment to creating enduring value for America by expanding our solar manufacturing footprint and the domestic value chains that enable it,” said First Solar CEO Mark Widmar.
