First Solar has opened its new solar module facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, holding a celebration to inaugurate the first phase of production at what is slated to become a 3.4 GW plant. The event featured company executives, community leaders and politicians from several levels of government.
The company plans to use the facility to onshore the final production processes for Series 6 Plus thin-film modules initiated at its international facilities. First Solar says the investment was driven by rising domestic demand for U.S.-made energy equipment following recent federal trade policies and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July 2025.
The second phase of the $330 million plant is expected to be complete by mid-2027, bringing the facility’s capacity from 1.7 GW to 3.4 GW of modules featuring the company’s CuRe technology. First Solar says it has already filled 500 jobs at the facility and expects to bring on nearly 200 more as the facility reaches full production.
Guests at the inauguration included South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Senator Darline Graham, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, South Carolina Senator Harvey Peeler, South Carolina R...