First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) will inaugurate the first phase of its new production facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, according to an announcement issued by the company on October 27.

The ceremony will be live streamed on First Solar’s X account beginning at 1 pm ET.

Series 6 Plus Production Expansion Adds Jobs

The approximately USD 330 million facility onshores final production processes for the company’s Series 6 Plus modules.

The site currently employs approximately 500 people, a number that First Solar forecasts will rise to nearly 700 by mid-2027, when the facility’s second phase is expected to be completed.

Dignitaries and Company Leadership Expected to Attend

A group of federal, state, and local officials is expected to join the ceremony alongside First Solar Chief Executive Officer Mark Widmar, employees, and community leaders.

The expected attendees include South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, US Senator Darline Graham, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, State Senator Harvey Peeler, State Representatives Dennis Moss and Brian Lawson, and Gaffney Mayor Lyman D. Dawkins III.

The participation of the US Secretary of Commerce and a US Senator at the event underscores the prominence of the occasion for the region, though the announcement does not elaborate on remarks or programs planned for the ceremony beyond the inaugural event itself.

What the Facility Will Do

The Gaffney site represents a roughly USD 330 million investment by First Solar and is dedicated to performing final production processes for the company’s Series 6 Plus modules.

The announcement does not specify the facility’s production capacity or output volumes, but it does confirm that the first phase is already operational to the extent of employing approximately 500 people. The second phase, expected to be completed by mid-2027, is forecast to support a workforce of nearly 700 employees.

First Solar characterizes the completion of the second phase and the associated job growth as forward-looking statements, noting in its release that such projections are predictions based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

About First Solar

First Solar describes itself as America’s leading PV solar technology and manufacturing company and the only US-headquartered company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers.

The company’s thin film PV technology was developed at research and development labs in California and Ohio, and First Solar positions it as a competitive, high-performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules.

Viewing the Ceremony

For those unable to attend in person, First Solar will stream the ceremony live on its X account starting at 1 pm ET on October 28, 2026, via a link provided by the company. Media inquiries can be directed to Reuven Proença, while investor questions are handled by Byron Jeffers.

The inauguration marks the completion of the first phase of what the company has committed to as a two-phase buildout in Cherokee County, with the second phase and the associated expansion of the workforce expected by mid-2027.

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