First Solar Announces New 3.7 GW Facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, Creating Over 600 Jobs
Expands US Capital Investment to $4.5 Billion, Boosting Domestic Production Capacity to Nearly 18 GW by 2027
TEMPE, Ariz. First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) has unveiled plans to establish a new facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, aimed at finalizing production processes for its Series 6 Plus modules, initially initiated by its international operations. The company anticipates investing approximately $330 million in the facility, which is slated to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2026. This project is expected to generate over 600 new jobs, offering an average manufacturing salary of $74,000 per year—nearly double the per capita income in Cherokee County.
The South Carolina facility, designed to bolster American energy dominance and affordability, was spurred by increased demand for domestically produced energy technology following the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in July 2025. Once operational, the facility will enhance First Solar’s capacity to produce American-made solar technology compliant with anticipated Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidelines by 3.7 gigawatts (GW), bringing its total annual nameplate capacity to 17.7 GW by 2027.
“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. “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.”
The new facility will transform thin-film solar cells produced by First Solar’s international operations into fully completed modules. This expansion builds on First Solar’s existing presence in South Carolina, which includes a distribution center in Duncan, Spartanburg County, and a longstanding partnership with Inland Port Greer. The Gaffney plant will join the company’s extensive manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere, which includes three fully vertically integrated facilities in Ohio and one each in Alabama and Louisiana, alongside R&D centers in Ohio and California. By the end of 2026, First Solar expects to directly employ over 5,500 people in the US, having invested approximately $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure since 2019.
“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,” said Mark Widmar, chief executive officer of First Solar. “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.”
Since beginning its US manufacturing operations in 2002, First Solar has emerged as the nation’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company. It is the only one of the world’s largest solar manufacturers headquartered in the US. By 2027, the company anticipates supporting over 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs nationwide, contributing an estimated $3 billion in labor income.
Source: First Solar
