Published

8 months ago

February 13, 2025

Alice Rush

Attendees were given a tour of the solar cell manufacturing facility.

ES Foundry marked a significant milestone in the U.S. solar manufacturing industry on Jan. 31 with the grand opening of its solar cell manufacturing facility in Greenwood, South Carolina. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which attracted industry leaders, government officials, and community members, celebrated the company’s investment in renewable energy and local economic development.

Reviving American Solar Manufacturing

During the event, ES Foundry’s Founder and CEO, Alex Zhu, emphasized the significance of this grand opening as a pivotal moment in the revival of U.S. solar manufacturing. Zhu highlighted the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in fostering policy support for clean energy initiatives, allowing ES Foundry to establish the first solar cell manufacturing plant in the country in 14 years. He also shared ambitious plans for the facility, stating that it will be the largest of its kind in the U.S. within months, with production capacity expected to reach 1 GW in 2025 and scale up to 3 GW soon.

“The future begins now.” – Alex Zhu, Founder and CEO, ES Foundry

Economic Growth and Job Creation

The new ES Foundry facility is located in the former Fujifilm manufacturing building. During the event, Zhu paid tribute to Fujifilm and announced that the company has already hired 125 employees, including former workers from Fujifilm and Ascend Performance Materials, both of which recently closed facilities in the area. Zhu also announced plans to expand the workforce to over 500 employees by Q3 2025.

Greenwood Mayor Brandon Smith applauded the investment, stating that the new facility strengthens Greenwood’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing.

“Economic development flows to the city,” Smith said.

Similarly, State House Representative John McCravy welcomed ES Foundry and expressed pride in the local workforce and their role in bringing solar cell manufacturing back to America.

“You’ve come to a place where business is welcome,” McCravy said.

Greenwood County Council Vice Chairman Dayne Pruitt described the facility’s opening as a moment of “opportunities, progress, and long-term growth.” He emphasized its importance as one of the first new companies to establish itself on the former Fujifilm campus and a catalyst for innovation and sustainability in the region.

A Look Ahead

ES Foundry was created to bring solar cell manufacturing back to the U.S. The plant will manufacture silicon raw wafers into high-efficiency solar cells using a cutting-edge diffusion process, ensuring that the products meet the criteria for being genuinely American-made. By creating genuinely American-made solar cells, ES Foundry empowers developers and project managers to capitalize on Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) benefits for domestic products.

With Phase 2 expansion on the horizon, ES Foundry is set to redefine American solar manufacturing and strengthen domestic supply chains. As it continues its rapid growth, ES Foundry stands as an example of how American manufacturing can compete globally. With its roots firmly planted in Greenwood, this facility is not just a factory—it’s a testament to the power of clean energy, economic renewal, and a vision for a brighter, more sustainable future.

Check out Energy for All Y’all for more clean energy success stories in the Southeast!

The post Breathing New Life Into American Solar Manufacturing: ES Foundry Opens New SC Solar Cell Facility appeared first on SACE | Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Breathing New Life Into American Solar Manufacturing: ES Foundry Opens New SC Solar Cell Facility

Renewable Energy

Trump Welcomes Qatar to Build Air Force Base in Idaho

Published

2 days ago

October 12, 2025

Alice Rush

No one seems to understand Trump’s motivation here. Did it have anything to do with the $400 million gift aircraft?

Does Qatar fear attack from Alberta or Saskatoon?

The Qataris say they need to be prepared to help achieve peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. I’m suspicious, though I’m no expert in military logistics. We’re talking about a 6000-mile plane ride.

Trump Welcomes Qatar to Build Air Force Base in Idaho

Renewable Energy

Trump’s Avalanche of Lies

Published

2 days ago

October 12, 2025

Alice Rush

What? I’m confused. “Trump’s Statement” of a few months was that “Gas prices are (present tense) under $2.”

It would have been interesting if one of the gaggle of reporters surrounding him could have asked the obvious question: “That’s great, sir, but can you name a single state in the union whose gas prices are under $2?

It would have been a tense moment, for sure, but don’t we have any self-respect?

Trump’s Avalanche of Lies

Renewable Energy

Where Does Domestic Violence Come From?

Published

2 days ago

October 12, 2025

Alice Rush

Over the past few months, and especially since the murder of Charlie Kirk, the right-wing news sources are telling us that most of the politically related violence is coming from the left, in particular from the left-wing “terrorist associations,” e.g., Antifa.

If you look at some coverage on the subject, however, you’ll learn that this is simple false. Here’s a bit from a PBS piece:

PBS: Policymakers and the public need reliable evidence and actual data to understand the reality of politically motivated violence.

Craig: No, they don’t. Are you serious? Are we to believe that Donald Trump is sending federal troops to democratically-led cities based on “reliable evidence and actual data?” This is a sick joke.

PBS: From our research on extremism, it’s clear that the president’s and Miller’s assertions about political violence from the left are not based on actual facts.

Here’s more from the PBS article:

After the Sept. 10, 2025, assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump claimed that radical leftist groups foment political violence in the U.S., and “they should be put in jail.”

“The radical left causes tremendous violence,” he said, asserting that “they seem to do it in a bigger way” than groups on the right.

WATCH: Extremism scholar analyzes influence of rhetoric on political violence

Top presidential adviser Stephen Miller also weighed in after Kirk’s killing, saying that left-wing political organizations constitute “a vast domestic terror movement.”

“We are going to use every resource we have … throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks and make America safe again,” Miller said.

Political violence rising

The understanding of political violence is complicated by differences in definitions and the recent Department of Justice removal of an important government-sponsored study of domestic terrorists.

Political violence in the U.S. has risen in recent months and takes forms that go unrecognized. During the 2024 election cycle, nearly half of all states reported threats against election workers, including social media death threats, intimidation and doxing.

WATCH: Trump conspiracies inspire threats against judges, jurors and election workers

Kirk’s assassination illustrates the growing threat. The man charged with the murder, Tyler Robinson, allegedly planned the attack in writing and online.

This follows other politically motivated killings, including the June assassination of Democratic Minnesota state Rep. and former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.

These incidents reflect a normalization of political violence. Threats and violence are increasingly treated as acceptable for achieving political goals, posing serious risks to democracy and society.