First Solar Opens $1.1 Billion, 2.4-Million-Sq-Ft Solar Factory In Louisiana, Adding 700+ Jobs And 3.5 GW Capacity To Boost U.S. Energy Leadership

First Solar, Inc. has officially opened its new fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. The company invested $1.1 billion in this project, which covers around 2.4 million square feet, making it nearly eleven times larger than the New Orleans Superdome. The factory currently employs more than 700 workers, and this number is expected to reach 826 by the end of the year. Once the facility reaches full production capacity, it will add 3.5 gigawatts of annual manufacturing output. With this addition, First Solar’s total U.S. manufacturing capacity is projected to reach 14 gigawatts in 2026 and expand to 17.7 gigawatts in 2027, once its newly announced South Carolina plant is fully operational.

The Iberia Parish facility began manufacturing solar modules in July 2025, several months earlier than planned. This faster schedule was made possible by strong policy support, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Trump administration’s trade measures, which boosted demand for solar technology made entirely in the United States and compliant with expected Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidelines. The facility is independent of Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains and uses American-produced materials such as glass from Illinois and Ohio, as well as steel from Mississippi that is fabricated into module backrails in Louisiana. It manufactures First Solar’s Series 7 modules.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said that First Solar’s investment is already creating significant benefits for Iberia Parish by generating hundreds of well-paying jobs and increasing economic opportunities. He added that projects like this strengthen the state’s workforce and support the national goal of achieving American energy dominance. According to an economic impact analysis by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, commissioned by the Iberia Economic Development Authority, the new facility is expected to increase Iberia Parish’s GDP by 4.4 percent in its first full year of operation. Jobs at the plant offer an average total compensation of $90,000 per year, which is more than three times the current per capita income in the parish.

First Solar’s CEO Mark Widmar stated that the new plant reflects the company’s commitment to supporting American energy leadership, economic growth, and affordable electricity. He emphasized that manufacturing solar technology in the U.S. using American materials and talent demonstrates that large-scale reindustrialization is actively happening, not just being discussed.

The manufacturing facility is equipped with advanced technologies, especially artificial intelligence. AI-enabled systems, including computer vision and deep learning, help detect defects automatically during the production process. Workers use AI-driven tools to make operating decisions and improve efficiency. First Solar’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, Kuntal Kumar Verma, described the Louisiana plant as one of the most advanced solar factories in the world, adding that it shows how AI can enhance productivity and support American workers in reaching higher performance levels.

This new site is part of First Solar’s extensive manufacturing and research presence in the Western Hemisphere, which includes three fully integrated factories in Ohio, another in Alabama, and R&D centers in Ohio and California. Recently, the company also announced a new production line in Gaffney, South Carolina, to bring additional Series 6 module processes back to the United States. By the end of 2026, First Solar expects to employ more than 5,500 people across the U.S. Since 2019, the company will have invested around $4.5 billion in manufacturing and research infrastructure nationwide.

First Solar has been producing solar technology in the United States since 2002 and remains the country’s leading photovoltaic manufacturer. It is also the only major global solar company headquartered in the U.S. By 2027, the company aims to support more than 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs nationwide, contributing over $3 billion in labor income.