First Solar breaks ground on $1.1 billion, 3.5 GW Louisiana manufacturing facility
In Louisiana, First Solar broke ground on a previously announced manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, its fifth fully vertically integrated factory in the United States.
The facility represents an investment of approximately $1.1 billion in expanding America’s capacity to produce photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Expected to start commercial shipments by the first half of 2026, the facility is forecast to grow the company’s nameplate manufacturing capacity by 3.5 gigawatts (GW) to reach approximately 14 GW in the US and 25 GW globally in 2026, First Solar said.
First Solar’s investment in Louisiana is expected to create over 700 new direct manufacturing jobs in the state.
Mark Widmar, chief executive officer at First Solar, said: “This facility, like its sister facilities in Ohio and Alabama, represents First Solar’s investment in our country’s future. We are creating enduring value for the US by building a robust solar manufacturing base and the value chains that enable it. This delivers jobs and economic value today, and establishes the foundations needed for the country to enter the next decade with a secure supply of solar energy technology.”
