T1 Energy’s Texas Solar Plant Investment Acknowledged by White House
The White House shared a message from T1 Energy, a solar manufacturer, which announced on Wednesday the establishment of a cell plant in Texas. The company indicates that initial capital investments will exceed $500 million.
In its post on X, T1 Energy described the G2_Austin facility as expected to generate around 1,500 advanced manufacturing jobs in Milam County, attributing the investment to the leadership of President Donald Trump.
T1 stated, “This investment would not have been possible without the leadership of President Trump and his administration. We are investing big in America because it is the greatest country in the world.”
Dan Barcelo, the company’s Chairman and CEO, mentioned to Breitbart News that this acknowledgment reflects the ongoing efforts of T1 Energy.
This recognition shows that T1 is assisting the administration in fulfilling a significant promise: to revitalize advanced manufacturing jobs. We’re thrilled that our efforts are being acknowledged. We’re building in America to empower Americans and strengthen American energy grids.
T1 estimates the first-phase capacity of the plant will be about 2.1 GW, with projected payroll reaching $120 million.
Construction initially began last December on over 100 acres in Rockdale, located northeast of Austin. At that time, the first-phase investment was projected to be between $400 million and $425 million, with possible job creation of up to 1,800. The cells produced at the plant are intended to support T1’s existing 5 GW module facility located south of Dallas. The company has set early 2027 as the target date for its first production.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had forecasted last year that the administration’s strategies would trigger a surge in capital expenditures, primarily through significant factory initiatives.
The CEO further stated, “Our investment will contribute to energy abundance while bringing back advanced manufacturing and providing jobs for Americans.”
In August, Trump enacted a Section 232 proclamation that established minimum import prices on polysilicon and related products, with a 15 percent tariff set to begin on December 4. Last week, the Commerce Department approved T1’s request for a waiver, allowing the import of up to 1.725 GW of foreign cells to support the module facility near Dallas while Rockdale is under construction.
During his recent campaign appearances in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, Trump supported Ken Paxton and warned fans that Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico “will kill millions of Texas jobs.”
