A new economic impact study released today by First Solar, Inc., provides an in-depth look at the company’s contributions to the U.S. economy. The study was conducted by the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, using IMPLAN economic modeling software. It analyzed First Solar’s actual and projected U.S. spending in 2025 and 2027, capturing the effects of its manufacturing, operations, and supply chain activities. By 2027, First Solar expects to operate approximately 18 gigawatts of annual nameplate solar module production capacity across six manufacturing facilities located in Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio, and South Carolina.
The study’s findings reveal the significant impact of First Solar’s operations on employment and labor income in the United States. In 2025, the company’s U.S. operations supported an estimated 29,605 direct, indirect, and induced jobs nationwide. These positions generated roughly $3 billion in labor income, equating to an average fully-loaded income of $101,145 per worker—more than double the national median personal income. These figures do not include downstream impacts, such as the development, construction, and maintenance of solar power plants that utilize First Solar’s technology.
By 2027, First Solar is projected to support 39,320 jobs and approximately $4 billion in annual labor income. This represents an increase of nearly 10,000 jobs and $1 billion in labor income between 2025 and 2027. The study also highlights the job multiplier effect, showing that in 2025, every First Solar job supported an estimated six additional direct, indirect, and induced jobs. This impact is consistent with previous findings from 2023 and is expected to continue through 2027. For context, the National Association of Manufacturers estimates that each manufacturing job supports 4.8 jobs across the U.S. economy, demonstrating that First Solar’s operations have a particularly strong economic effect.
In terms of overall economic contribution, First Solar added an estimated $5.8 billion in direct, indirect, and induced value to the U.S. economy in 2025. This contribution to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to increase by 28 percent, reaching approximately $7.8 billion in 2027. First Solar’s capital investments also played a major role in boosting economic activity, supporting an estimated 10,370 additional jobs in 2025, primarily tied to construction projects. These investments generated nearly $900 million in labor income and contributed an additional $1.6 billion to U.S. GDP.
Mark Widmar, Chief Executive Officer of First Solar, emphasized the broader significance of these findings, stating, “This study demonstrates how genuinely American solar manufacturing can deliver long-term economic value at the intersection of national priorities such as energy dominance, affordable electricity, and economic prosperity. We’re proud to contribute to America’s reindustrialization through our manufacturing and supply chain investments, as our technology works alongside all other forms of energy generation to produce affordable, reliable electricity to power growth and prosperity.”
The study underlines the unique nature of First Solar’s operations. The company operates fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities that produce thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar panels through a single process, integrating the production of wafers and cells. This approach allows First Solar to transform a sheet of glass into a fully functional solar panel in approximately four hours. The company also relies primarily on an American value chain for key raw materials, including glass and steel, which further strengthens the domestic economic impact of its manufacturing operations.
The study’s release comes alongside the results of a recent national poll conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates for First Solar. The survey found broad support for solar energy among Republicans, Republican-leaning independents, and voters who supported President Donald J. Trump. Among the 800 GOP+ voters surveyed, support for utility-scale solar increased to 70 percent when the panels were made in the U.S., and 51 percent said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who supports an American company building a solar panel manufacturing plant in the country.
First Solar has been manufacturing in the United States since 2002 and is the nation’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company. It operates the largest solar technology manufacturing and research and development footprint in the Western Hemisphere, with five operational facilities in Alabama, Louisiana, and Ohio, and a sixth facility under construction in South Carolina. This new plant is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2026 and increase First Solar’s capacity by 3.7 gigawatts, bringing the company’s total annual nameplate production capacity to approximately 18 gigawatts by 2027. Since 2019, First Solar has invested roughly $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure, demonstrating a strong and sustained commitment to domestic solar production and innovation.
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