Energy Affordability and U.S. Manufacturing
Affordability is a significant concern for the campaign, and addressing America’s energy costs is essential. Dan Barcelo, the CEO of T1 Energy, has some plans in mind to tackle this issue.
At a recent policy event hosted by Breitbart News, Barcelo discussed how advanced manufacturing, specifically U.S.-based solar power, can enhance energy affordability and rejuvenate American manufacturing. This conversation came after a panel featuring Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, moderated by Breitbart’s Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlowe and Financial Economics Editor-in-Chief John Carney.
“Secretary Lutnick gets it, and President Trump does too. This is about bringing jobs back to America,” Barcelo shared with Breitbart’s Washington Bureau Chief Matt Boyle. “The manufacturing we focus on is different, and that definition applies to T1.”
Barcelo explained how the shifting energy landscape creates opportunities for competitiveness in U.S. manufacturing, spotlighting T1 Energy’s operations in Texas. “We operate a 5-gigawatt power plant there, which accounts for about 10 percent of the solar panel capacity in the U.S.,” he noted. “We employ over 1,250 people, contributing significantly to the local economy. It’s really about restoring manufacturing here.”
He highlighted that the entire process of producing photovoltaic panels, from sourcing raw materials to creating the final product, can be relocated. “There’s no need to produce solar panels in China and import them. They can be made right here in Texas,” Barcelo stated. “We are part of the entire supply chain, too. We source polysilicon from Hemlock in Michigan, and we’ll soon purchase wafers from Corning, also in Michigan.”
Additionally, Barcelo introduced a new initiative called “G2 Austin,” which focuses on creating high-tech solar cells on previously industrial land. “We’re developing G2 Austin in Milam County, Rockdale, Texas—a site that once housed an Alcoa plant. It has ample power and water resources, so we’re repurposing it. What’s now just empty land will soon host 1,500 well-paying automation jobs,” he explained.
He connected this initiative to broader themes of energy security and the importance of digital infrastructure, stating, “Another crucial aspect is how we power AI and the data centers essential for American competitiveness.”
Drawing on his background in fossil fuels, Barcelo compared solar power development to traditional energy production. “We historically drilled for natural gas and oil, distributing that energy across the globe. Manufacturing solar power is akin to creating an equivalent of a natural gas field, but in a solar context,” he remarked.
Moreover, he underscored solar power’s role in stabilizing the energy grid and enhancing affordability. “This energy is critical now. It’s the most rapidly deployable and has low development costs,” Barcelo said. “An important aspect of solar is that, once integrated into the grid, it has zero marginal cost. For instance, last week, solar provided half of Texas’s grid power at noon, at no extra cost.”
Barcelo wrapped up by stressing the importance of diversifying energy sources and the potential for renewables to lower costs. “Natural gas, coal, and nuclear all have their place, but solar can help flatten costs. Affordability in energy deployment has to be a priority,” he concluded.
This event marked Breitbart’s first policy discussion of 2026, following a similar gathering the previous year with notable government officials including Vice President J.D. Vance and others. Breitbart News collaborated with CGCN and ALFA Institute to organize the event.
