First Solar officially opens new $1.1 billion Louisiana solar panel factory

First Solar announced November 21 that it had officially inaugurated its $1.1 billion solar panel factory in Iberia Parish in the south of Louisiana. According to a company release, the new factory currently employs 700 people, though the company hopes to have 826 by the end of the year. The inauguration of the Louisiana plant follows FirstSolar’s November 14 announcement it would build a new plant in South Carolina.  

According to First Solar, the Louisiana plant makes the company’s Series 7 photovoltaic solar power panels out of entirely U.S.-sourced materials, including steel from Mississippi and glass from Illinois and Ohio. As with its previous announcement about the South Carolina plant, First Solar executives cast the plant as a response to President Trump’s attempt to increase domestic manufacturing, especially domestic manufacturing of energy products.

First Solar is also touting that the new factory features cutting-edge technology. In a statement, First Solar chief manufacturing officer Kuntal Kumar Verma said the new factory features AI systems for improving productivity, including by automatically detecting defects in solar panels in production.

What people are saying

“This is more than just a manufacturing facility. It’s a commitment to American energy dominance, affordable electricity, growth and prosperity,” said First Solar CEO Mike Widmar. “By competitively producing energy technology in America with American materials, while creating American jobs, we’re demonstrating that US reindustrialization isn’t just a thesis, it’s an operating reality.”

“First Solar’s investment is already delivering real results for Iberia Parish and the surrounding region with hundreds of good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Louisiana workers and businesses,” said Louisiana Gov., Jeff Landry. “This is exactly how we advance President Trump’s agenda of American energy dominance. Louisiana has always powered this country, and with projects like this, we’re strengthening our workforce and securing an all-of-the-above energy future that drives growth and prosperity.”

“This is, beyond doubt, one of the most advanced solar manufacturing facilities in the world and it represents the very best of American manufacturing innovation,” said Kuntal Kumar Verma, chief manufacturing officer, First Solar. “Along with its sister facilities in Ohio and Alabama, this factory demonstrates how AI can be harnessed to help American factory workers reach their full potential. Our fleet offers proof that AI can help realize productivity gains that allow us to out-innovate the competition and run our operations smarter, better, and faster.”

Manufacturers investing in Louisiana

Ascentek invests $50M to build manufacturing assistance facility in Louisiana
The expansion will also enhance operations at the company’s existing production and distribution center in Caddo Parish.

Mid South Extrusion invests $12.5M to expand polyethylene manufacturing facility in Louisiana 
The expansion will allow the company to better serve its customers with faster, more consistent, and flexible production.  

Steel fabricator invests $25M to expand manufacturing facility in Louisiana 
The expansion will include 100,000 square feet of production space and the acquisition of cutting-edge welding technology.

Investing in American manufacturing in 2025 

This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.