New solar panel manufacturing site creates over 700 jobs - KATC News
New solar panel manufacturing site creates over 700 jobs
NEW IBERIA, La. — The Acadiana Regional Airport been selected as one of five 'First Solar' locations nationwide. The company is the largest solar panel manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere, and is investing $1.1 billion into this 2.3 million square meter building.
Along with the impressive structure comes over 700 new job opportunities for the area.
"We are so excited to tap into the wonderful Acadiana workforce," said Mike Tarantino of Iberia Industrial Development, "all the things they bring to the table, it's the right move for First Solar and it's wonderful for Acadiana."
The facility will be located just off of Highway 90, and is set to be completed sometime in 2026.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: solar
Declining costs and government encouragement have resulted in a rapid increase in solar energy production in the United States over the past 10 years, although solar’s share remains small: 1.6 percent of all electricity generation in 2018. That rapid growth is projected to continue.