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First Solar Inaugurates First Phase of South Carolina Production Facility
The $330 million plant is expected to double annual capacity to 3.4 gigawatts and support nearly 700 jobs by mid-2027, the company said.
On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, First Solar inaugurated the first phase of its new facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, which onshores final production of Series 6 Plus modules.
Catalyzed by the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed by President Donald J. Trump in July 2025, the facility supports Administration goals for American energy dominance and domestic manufacturing expansion.
The first phase employs around 500 people with wages averaging twice the Cherokee County per capita income; First Solar Chief Executive Officer Mark Widmar said the facility is a "symbol of American energy dominance and re-industrialization."
Every module produced at the site is made without dependence on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains, strengthening First Solar's ability to deliver certainty as American electricity demand grows.
By mid-2027, the facility's second phase will double annual nameplate capacity to 3.4 gigawatts and begin producing CuRe technology, with expansion forecasted to support nearly 700 jobs.