Major solar manufacturer opens massive new factory in unexpected state: 'A crown jewel for us'
By Michael Muir, The Cool Down.
Excerpt: Renewable energy received a major boost in Texas with the opening of a 1.6-gigawatt solar module factory in Brookshire. Waaree Solar Americas, a subdivision of Indian conglomerate Waaree Energies, began production in January 2025. The manufacturer told PV Magazine, "The launch of commercial production marks a critical step in localizing solar manufacturing in the United States, contributing to job creation and economic growth while reducing reliance on imported solar products." The company plans to ramp up production in 2026 to three gigawatts and five gigawatts by the end of 2027. For reference, one gigawatt is enough energy to power around 876,000 homes for a year, per Carbon Collective. ...Solar power is incredibly popular across the political spectrum in the United States, with a recent poll finding that almost 90% of citizens support federal incentives to install it. ...As a clean energy source, it appeals to environmentally conscious homeowners, while the potential savings make solar attractive to more fiscally minded consumers. Homeowners who take the plunge enjoy huge savings ...which amount to tens of thousands over the panels' lifetime. Such is the bipartisan appeal of rooftop solar panels that when the Inflation Reduction Act offered incentives to lower the installation costs, Republican-leaning states were the biggest beneficiaries....