Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 17, First Solar announced plans to build a new production facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, with an estimated investment of about $330 million. The plant is scheduled to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2026. It will complete the final production processes for the company’s Series 6 Plus modules, which are initially manufactured by First Solar’s international operations.

Operations are set to commence within H2 2026.

The new facility is expected to generate more than 600 jobs in Cherokee County. According to the company, the average manufacturing salary at the site will be around $74,000 per year. This figure is nearly double the county’s per capita income and is intended to support local workforce development and economic growth.

First Solar said the decision to establish the Gaffney plant was influenced by rising demand for domestically produced energy technology. The company noted that this trend was catalyzed following the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025. Once operational, the South Carolina facility is projected to add 3.7 GW of American-made solar technology, raising First Solar’s total annual nameplate capacity to 17.7 GW by 2027.

South Carolina governor Henry McMaster stated: “South Carolina is proud to be a destination for innovative energy companies that are powering our country with American technology. 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 company explained that the Gaffney plant will handle onshore processing, converting thin-film solar cells produced across its global fleet into finished modules. First Solar already operates a distribution centre in Duncan in Spartanburg County and collaborates with Inland Port Greer to support logistics and regional operations.

According to First Solar, the new facility will become part of the largest solar manufacturing and R&D ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. This network includes three fully vertically integrated factories in Ohio, along with research and development centres in Ohio and California. By the end of 2026, the company expects to employ more than 5,500 people across the United States and to have invested approximately $4.5 billion in domestic manufacturing and R&D since 2019.

First Solar CEO Mark Widmar said: “The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the [US] administration’s trade policies boosted demand for American energy technology, requiring a timely, agile response that allows us to meet the moment. 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.”

By 2027, the company anticipates supporting more than 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the country, representing over $3 billion in labour income.