Published

2 years 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

There Were Prior Threats to the Nation Stemming from the White House

Published

2 days ago

September 24, 2026

Alice Rush

For most of our lives, many of us boomers have believed that the biggest threat to the United States was our president, starting with Tricky Dick Nixon, the inventor of the “trickle-down economics,” liar Ronald Reagan, and GW (the moron) Bush.

But yes, none of us was prepared for the cold, calculating criminal who is Donald Trump.

There Were Prior Threats to the Nation Stemming from the White House

Renewable Energy

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Published

2 days ago

September 24, 2026

Alice Rush

The fact that human activity is unsustainable has been revealed to us gradually over the last century. Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” was published 63 years ago.

That said, the ideas of climate change, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity have been essentially unchallenged by scientists for just the last couple of decades.

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Yes, Human Activity, in its Current State, Is Unsustainable

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Will the U.S. Top Military Intervene Before Trump Inflicts Irreparable Damage

Published

2 days ago

September 24, 2026

Alice Rush

It’s still possible that our most senior military leaders will insert themselves in time to prevent some truly catastrophic event here in the United States/abroad.