First Solar Inaugurates New $1.1 Billion AI-Enabled Louisiana Manufacturing Facility

• First Solar’s fifth operating US manufacturing facility creates over 800 new manufacturing jobs

• Facility forecast to raise Iberia Parish’s GDP by 4.4% in first full year of operations at capacity

• Largest American solar manufacturer expects almost 18 GW of domestic production capacity in 2027

TEMPE, AZ. – First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) (the “Company” or “First Solar”) today inaugurated its new fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. The $1.1 billion facility, which spans approximately 2.4 million square feet and is about 11 times the size of the New Orleans Superdome, currently employs over 700 people and is expected to have 826 employees by the end of the year. Once fully ramped, the Iberia Parish facility is expected to add 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of annual nameplate capacity, taking First Solar’s American manufacturing footprint to 14 GW in 2026, and 17.7 GW in 2027, when a recently announced production facility in South Carolina is expected to be fully ramped.

The Iberia Parish facility began production in July 2025, several months ahead of schedule. The accelerated timeline was driven by the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Trump administration’s trade policies, both of which catalyzed demand for American-made solar technology that is fully compliant with anticipated Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidance. The facility, which has no dependencies on Chinese crystalline silicon supply chains, produces First Solar’s Series 7 modules using American materials including glass from Illinois and Ohio, and steel produced in Mississippi and fabricated into backrails in Louisiana.

“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,” Governor Jeff Landry said. “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.”

According to an economic impact analysis conducted by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and commissioned by the Iberia Economic Development Authority (IEDA) the new facility is forecast to grow Iberia Parish’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 4.4% in its first full year of operations at capacity. Manufacturing roles at the facility offer an average compensation package of $90,000 per year, more than three times the per capita income in Iberia Parish.

“This is more than just a manufacturing facility. It’s a commitment to American energy dominance, affordable electricity, growth and prosperity,” First Solar CEO Mark Widmar said. “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.”

The high-tech factory is enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), using computer vision and deep learning to automatically detect defects in solar panels during production, while technicians and operators leverage AI-powered tools to make operating adjustments and guide decision making.

“First Solar’s investment in Iberia Parish represents the kind of forward-looking growth that reinforces Louisiana’s leadership in energy and advanced manufacturing,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “By pairing innovation with our state’s long-standing energy expertise and world-class workforce, this project creates lasting opportunities for Louisiana and bolsters American energy security.”

The Louisiana facility is part of what is already the largest solar technology manufacturing and research and development (R&D) footprint in the Western Hemisphere and includes three fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in Ohio, and one in Alabama, along with R&D centers in Ohio and California. Last week, the Company announced an investment in a new production line in Gaffney, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for Series 6 modules initiated by its international fleet. Altogether, the Company, which expects to directly employ over 5,500 people in the US by the end of 2026, will have invested approximately $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure since 2019.

“Today’s inauguration ceremony marks a transformative moment for Iberia Parish,” Iberia Industrial Development Foundation President and CEO Michael J. Tarantino said. “We are grateful for First Solar’s commitment and investment in our community, and we are proud to welcome their contribution to our growing energy portfolio. We look forward to seeing “Made in Iberia Parish, Louisiana” come to life.”

Having manufactured in the US since 2002, First Solar is the country’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company. It is the only one of the world’s largest solar manufacturers to be headquartered in the US. By 2027, the Company expects to support over 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the country, estimated to represent more than $3 billion in labor income.

“First Solar’s inauguration marks an incredible milestone for Iberia Parish and the entire Acadiana region,” One Acadiana President & CEO Troy Wayman said. “We’re proud to celebrate alongside both our state and local partners at Louisiana Economic Development and Iberia Industrial Development Foundation as we see this investment come to life — bringing quality jobs, new economic activity, and continued momentum for our manufacturing and energy sectors.”

About First Solar, Inc.
First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) is America’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company. The only US-headquartered company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers, First Solar is focused on competitively and reliably enabling power generation needs with its advanced, uniquely American thin film PV technology. Developed at research and development (R&D) labs in California and Ohio, the Company’s technology represents the next generation of solar power generation, providing a competitive, high-performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules. For more information, please visit www.firstsolar.com.

About LED
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for driving capital investment, job creation and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes. Explore how LED is positioning Louisiana to win at OpportunityLouisiana.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Emma Wagner, LED Communications Director
Emma.Wagner@la.gov
912.467.2117

Reuven Proença, First Solar Media
media@firstsolar.com

Byron Jeffers, First Solar Investor Relations
investor@firstsolar.com