Overview
- The new module facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2026.
- First Solar projects more than 600 new jobs at the site, with an average manufacturing salary of $74,000 per year.
- The company says the expansion will lift its U.S. nameplate capacity to 17.7 GW by 2027 and meet anticipated FEOC compliance requirements.
- First Solar describes the plant as onshoring final processes for Series 6 Plus modules, while separate reporting says it is designed for Series 7 and spans over one million square feet.
- Executives attribute the decision to demand created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and trade policies, adding to recent U.S. expansions in Ohio and Louisiana.