Despite turbulence, US solar manufacturing expands domestic supply chain plans

• Inside Climate News reports manufacturers are still scaling U.S. solar supply chains; T1 Energy’s pact with Corning highlights a push for domestic wafers and cells.

Policy crosswinds aren’t stopping a build-out of American solar factories. Fresh reporting today shows multiple manufacturers pressing ahead with U.S. supply chains—cells, wafers and modules—aimed at reducing exposure to imports and stabilizing delivery for utility-scale projects. One standout: T1 Energy’s agreement with Corning to source U.S. polysilicon and route it through a new Texas cell plant to final assembly in Dallas, a setup designed to qualify for manufacturing incentives and tighten quality control.

Inside Climate News notes the contours of a maturing ecosystem: established names like First Solar and Qcells expanding capacity, and newer entrants clustering in states with logistics advantages and pro-industry policies. The T1–Corning plan would support thousands of jobs and begin deliveries in 2026, contingent on plant build-outs and component qualification. With tariffs and “prohibited foreign entity” rules still evolving, domestic chains give developers clearer line of sight on traceability and credit eligibility.

The domestic shift isn’t without friction. Equipment vendors must line up ultra-pure inputs, ensure power quality and water treatment for wafering, and synchronize upstream glass, backsheet and junction-box supplies—all while keeping yields high enough to be cost-competitive with Asia. Analysts quoted in the piece stress that experience matters: seasoned producers with proven lines are best positioned, but standardized designs and cross-supply agreements can help newer firms ramp faster.

For buyers, a deeper U.S. base means shorter lead times and fewer shipping risks, especially when co-located storage demands tight commissioning windows. If these factory plans stay on track, 2026–2027 project cohorts could feature substantially more American-made content—good for eligibility, and good for operational certainty.