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TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) (the “Company” or “First Solar”) today announced that it will establish a new facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for Series 6 Plus modules initiated by the Company’s international fleet. The Company expects to spend approximately $330 million to establish the new facility, which is scheduled to commence commercial operations in the second half of 2026. The facility is forecast to create over 600 new jobs with an average manufacturing salary of $74,000 per year, approximately twice the per capita income in Cherokee County.

The South Carolina facility — which will directly support American energy dominance and affordability goals — was catalyzed by demand for domestically-produced energy technology created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in July 2025. The facility is expected to increase First Solar’s capacity to produce American-made solar technology that is fully compliant with anticipated Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidance, by 3.7 gigawatts (GW), reaching 17.7 GW of annual nameplate capacity in 2027.

“South Carolina is proud to be a destination for innovative energy companies that are powering our country with American technology,” said Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina. “First Solar's investment will create 600 new jobs in Cherokee County, which will greatly strengthen the local economy and help advance America's energy independence. Their expanded presence in our state will provide even more opportunities for hardworking South Carolinians.”

The onshored processes will transform thin film solar cells produced by First Solar’s international fleet into fully completed modules. The new facility expands First Solar’s footprint in South Carolina, which currently includes a distribution center in Duncan, Spartanburg County, and a longstanding partnership with Inland Port Greer. The Gaffney plant will be 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 each in Alabama and Louisiana, along with R&D centers in Ohio and California. 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.

“The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Administration’s trade policies boosted demand for American energy technology, requiring a timely, agile response that allows us to meet the moment,” said Mark Widmar, chief executive officer, First Solar. “We expect that this new facility will enable us to serve the US market with technology that is compliant with the Act’s stringent provisions, within timelines that align with our customers’ objectives.”

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.

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.

For First Solar Investors

This press release contains various “forward-looking statements” which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: (i) plans to establish a new production facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for Series 6 modules initiated by the Company’s international fleet; (ii) expectations that the Company will spend approximately $330 million in establishing the new facility; that the facility will commence commercial operations in the second half of 2026, and create over 600 new jobs; (iii) expectations that the facility will have an annual nameplate capacity of 3.7 gigawatts and that this capacity will be fully compliant with anticipated Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) guidance; and (iv) our expectation that First Solar will directly employ over 5,500 people in the US by the end of 2026, supporting over 30,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the country, representing more than $3 billion in labor income. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “predict,” “continue” and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on First Solar’s current expectations and First Solar’s projections about future events and therefore speak only as of the date of this release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. First Solar undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause First Solar’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the transaction; the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the transaction in a timely manner or at all; and the matters discussed under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as supplemented by our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release contains references to data and information generated by an economic study conducted by the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The economic study is based on numerous assumptions, estimates and other data as more fully described in the report summarizing the study’s findings, which is available at www.firstsolar.com/USeconomy.

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It is Week 2 of the SCHSL and SCISA high school football playoffs.

SCHSL Class 5A Division I

Upper State

Dutch Fork 42, Boiling Springs 7

Byrnes 37, Rock Hill 21

Dorman 44, Blythewood 13

Ridge View 29, Spartanburg 21

Lower State

Carolina Forest 49, Fort Dorchester 0

Summerville 48, Ashley Ridge 27

James Island 42, Sumter 35

Stratford 40, River Bluff 35

Nov. 21

Upper State

(4) Byrnes at (1) Dutch Fork

(3) Ridge View at (2) Dorman

Lower State

(5) Summerville at (1) Carolina Forest

(6) James Island at (2) Stratford

SCHSL Class 5A Division II

Upper State

Northwestern 42, Catawba Ridge 7

Gaffney 38, Greenwood 31

Indian Land 40, Hillcrest 10

TL Hanna 38, Greenville 14

Lower State

Irmo 41, Lugoff-Elgin 16

White Knoll 14, Lucy Beckham 10

Myrtle Beach 24, West Florence 21

Berkeley 48, Westwood 20

Nov. 21

Upper State

(5) Gaffney at (1) Northwestern

(3) Indian Land at (2) TL Hanna

Lower State

(4) White Knoll at (1) Irmo

(3) Berkeley at (2) Myrtle Beach

SCHSL Class 4A

Upper State

South Pointe 49, Fountain Inn 0

AC Flora 34, Seneca 21

Westside 55, Wren 20

Camden 52, Daniel 14

Lower State

South Florence 43, Bishop England 0

North Augusta 35, Gilbert 7

Gray Collegiate 49, Hartsville 28

Hilton Head 31, Wilson 7

Nov. 21

Upper State

(5) AC Flora at (1) South Pointe

(7) Camden at (3) Westside

Lower State

(4) North Augusta at (1) South Florence

(3) Gray Collegiate at (2) Hilton Head Island

SCHSL Class 3A

Upper State

Powdersville 30, Pendleton 7

Mountain View Prep 50, Crescent 49

Belton-Honea Path 52, Southside Christian 6

Woodruff 40, Christ Church 37

Lower State

Oceanside Collegiate 24, Marlboro County 7

Dillon 42, Silver Bluff 7

Loris 56, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 20

Newberry 41, Hanahan 21

Nov. 21

Upper State

(5) Mountain View Prep at (1) Powdersville

(3) Belton-Honea Path at (2) Woodruff

Lower State

(4) Dillon at (1) Oceanside Collegiate

(3) Loris at (2) Newberry

SCHSL Class 2A

Upper State

Clinton 35, Saluda 26

Fairfield Central 36, Andrew Jackson 0

Chester 42, Batesburg-Leesville 28

Strom Thurmond 48, Liberty 21

Lower State

Hampton County 28, Cheraw 10

Manning 46, Timberland 24

Central 49, East Clarendon 28

Philip Simmons 17, Atlantic Collegiate 7

Nov. 21

Upper State

Fairfield Central at Clinton

Chester at Strom Thurmond

Lower State

Hampton County vs. Manning

Central at Philip Simmons

SCHSL Class A

Upper State

Lewisville 29, Abbeville 28

CA Johnson 28, Blackville-Hilda 0

Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 36, Ware Shoals 12

Lamar 36, Wagener-Salley 6

Lower State

Cross 38, Bethune Bowman 0

Johnsonville 38, Scott’s Branch 14

Carvers Bay 56, Lake View 8

Bamberg-Ehrhardt 49, Latta 6

Nov. 21

Upper State

CA Johnson at Lewisville

Hunter-Kinard Tyler at Lamar

Lower State

Johnsonville at Cross

Carvers Bay at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

SCISA Class 4A

Northwood 34, Porter-Gaud 20

Heathwood 16, Hammond 13

SCISA Class 3A

Wilson Hall 50, Hilton Head Christian 29

Pinewood Prep 45, Florence Christian 6

SCISA Class 2A

Pee Dee Academy 34, Hilton Head Prep 33

Bethesda 32, Greenwood Christian 14

SCISA Class A

Colleton Prep 22, Dorchester Academy 16

Williamsburg Academy 37, Thomas Heyward 20

SCISA 8-Man

WW King 74, Jefferson Davis 28

Laurens Academy 30, Holly Hill 24

SCISA Championships

Nov. 21

At Greenwood Christian

8-Man: WW King vs. Laurens Academy, 7:30 p.m.

At South Carolina State

Nov. 21

Class 4A: Heathwood Hall vs. Northwood, 7 p.m.

Nov. 22

Class 2A: Pee Dee Academy vs. Bethesda, noon

Class A: Colleton Prep vs. Williamsburg Academy, 3:30 p.m.

Class 3A: Wilson Hall vs. Pinewood Prep, 7:30 p.m.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. —

A solar and manufacturing company is planning a new production facility in Cherokee County, South Carolina, and creating more than 600 new jobs.

First Solar, Inc. expects to spend approximately $330 million to establish the new facility.

The new facility will be located at 121 Logistics Drive in Gaffney and onshore the final production processes for Series 6 modules initiated by the company’s international fleet.

The company currently operates a distribution center in Duncan and has a longstanding partnership with Inland Port Greer.

Operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2026. Individuals interested in joining the First Solar team should visit the company’s careers page.

FIVE FAST FACTS

“As the United States experiences historic demand for abundant, affordable electricity, we’re proud to meet the moment by expanding our domestic energy technology manufacturing capacity with a new facility in South Carolina. This investment demonstrates the value of American solar manufacturing and supply chains in unleashing energy dominance while creating jobs and prosperity for local communities.” -First Solar, Inc. CEO Mark Widmar

“South Carolina is proud to be a destination for innovative energy companies that are powering our country with American technology. First Solar's investment will create 600 new jobs in Cherokee County, which will greatly strengthen the local economy and help advance America's energy independence. Their expanded presence in our state will provide even more opportunities for hardworking South Carolinians.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“This investment by First Solar will further strengthen South Carolina’s growing reputation in the clean energy sector, and we are excited for the economic opportunities it will bring to a rural part of our state. Congratulations to First Solar and Cherokee County on this announcement that will have a tremendous impact in the community for many years to come.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“South Carolina Ports has enjoyed a productive relationship with First Solar and is honored by their choice of Cherokee County, South Carolina for this major investment. We congratulate First Solar and will continue to serve as a reliable, responsive port partner.” -SC Ports President and CEO Micah Mallace

“Today is a milestone for Cherokee County. First Solar’s $330 million investment and 600 high-paying new jobs show confidence in our community. Projects like these position Gaffney as a leader in economic development and bring new opportunities for our citizens. We’re proud to welcome First Solar and look forward to a successful partnership.” -Cherokee County Council Chairman Tim Spencer

Nestlé announced on Oct. 16 that thousands of jobs will be cut over the next two years globally.

New Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil made the announcement, stating that the company is seeking to cut costs and win back investor confidence. Nestlé is the world's largest packaged food company with around 277,000 employees globally, including those in a plant based in Gaffney.

Reports from Reuters indicate the cuts represent about 5.8% of the company's employees.

The corporation had already announced a 2.5 billion Swiss franc cost-savings target by the end of 2027, but now the company has pushed that target to 3 billion Swiss francs ($3.77 billion) in that timeframe.

"The world is changing, and Nestlé needs to change faster," Navratil said.

How many people is Nestlé laying off?

The food company giant expects to lay off 16,000 employees over the next two years.

Navaratil said roughly 12,000 white-collar jobs will be cut, along with a 4,000-headcount reduction, as part of ongoing manufacturing and supply chain initiatives aimed at boosting efficiency, according to Reuters.

What is going to happen to the Nestlé plant in Gaffney, South Carolina?

As of Oct. 17, there has been no indication that layoffs had been announced at the Gaffney plant, and no WARN notices had been filed with South Carolina Works.

The plant, which opened in 1980, is one of 112 facilities the company owns in the U.S.

In 2024, Nestlé USA announced an expansion of its Cherokee County operations, investing $150 million in its Gaffney production facility.

What products does Nestlé make?

Nestlé is synonymous with Toll House Chocolate Chips in the United States, but its reach in the packaged food industry is far-reaching. Here are some of the brands under the Nestlé umbrella:

Four people, including two young children, died while trying to escape a house fire in upstate South Carolina — while another person escaped.

In the early morning on Sunday, Oct. 26, a fire broke out at a residence in Gaffney, and Kathy Shippy made it out of the blaze, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE.

As the fire spread at the one-story home, Kathy reported the fire at 1:40 a.m. by running across the street and asking a neighbor to call authorities, Fowler explained. According to the coroner, security footage shows the blaze had already enveloped much of the home by this time.

“A doorbell camera on the neighbor’s house shows the structure was fully involved with fire at that time,” Fowler said.

While Kathy escaped the blaze, four others did not, Fowler said: Willie Morris, 38, Dakeyia Shippy, 25, died in the fire, along with 4-year-old Mason Issac, and 7-month-old Jerekry McGill.

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It is not immediately clear what the relationship is between the victims of the multiple fatality fire, but according to Fowler, they all lived in the home.

The source of the fatal fire was traced to an indoor heater, according to Fowler. Kathy said that Morris “was attempting to refuel a kerosene heater inside the home when fire erupted,” the coroner said.

Fowler shared the tragic circumstances the deceased were discovered in.

“All four victims were found on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the house,” the coroner said. They “appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke,” he said.

The coroner, along with Gaffney Fire Marshall and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are investigating the fire. Autopsies have been scheduled as part of the effort.