Louisiana Selected by First Solar for panel Factory

The United States-based energy company, First Solar, announced in August that they have selected Iberia Parish as the site for their next solar panel manufacturing facility.

Founded in 1999, First Solar is among the ten largest global manufacturers of solar modules: however, it is the only one out of those ten to be headquartered in the United States.

This $1.1 billion investment will be the largest capital investment in the history of the state, as well as First Solar’s fifth U.S. plant.The facility, projected to be finished in early 2026, produces high-performance photovoltaic solar modules that provide a lower-carbon alternative to the traditional crystalline silicon PV panels.

The approximate 700 new jobs and $40 million annual payroll will enter in a new age for

Louisiana’s economy and its workforce, as pointed out by First Solar.

“We are pleased to partner with Louisiana as we lean into our commitment to creating enduring value for America by expanding our solar manufacturing footprint and the domestic value chains that enable it,” said First Solar Chief Executive Officer Mark Widmar. “As we evaluated our options, Louisiana’s ability to deliver the talent we need stood out, thanks to its extensive workforce development initiatives and the presence of academic institutions such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette which now features a world-class solar energy lab. In bringing our unique, fully vertically integrated solar manufacturing model to Louisiana, we expect the plant to mirror the commitment to ‘Responsible Solar’ evident at every First Solar manufacturing facility, which are among the cleanest, safest, and most diverse in the industry. We are proud that our investment in American manufacturing will create stable, good-paying manufacturing jobs and economic and social value in the state.”

More than this, the facility will be built on an LED certified site, which undergoes a rigorous third-party inspection to determine if the site is development ready.

The manufacturer received $30 million in site development and infrastructure incentives from the state as part of the deal. All payments hinge on the investment, employment and payment targets.