Canadian Solar Inc., headquartered in Guelph, Ontario, announced that it is establishing a 5 GW Solar PV cell production facility at the River Ridge Commerce Center, about 113 miles south of Indianapolis, in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Canadian Solar is building a state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing plant with an annual output of 5 GW, equivalent to approximately 20,000 high-power modules per day. The Jeffersonville facility represents a projected investment of more than $800 million and will create approximately 1,200 skilled high-tech jobs once production is fully ramped up. The solar cells produced at this facility will be used at the previously announced 5 GW module assembly plant in Mesquite, Texas. Production at the Jeffersonville facility is expected to begin by the end of 2025.
"Indiana's strong advanced manufacturing sector positions the state to help lead the global energy transition, developing and powering new solutions in batteries, solar and hydrogen," said Governor Eric Holcomb. "Canadian Solar's new U.S. location in Jeffersonville will put our skilled Hoosier workforce at the center of cultivating solar power, making energy efficient panels more accessible to consumers across the country."
United States Senator Mike Braun stated, "Indiana is a proud leader both in the Midwest and the country in manufacturing and innovation. I'm pleased to know that this new solar manufacturing facility opening in Jeffersonville will create many new jobs for Hoosiers and stimulate the local economy."
Emphasizing the importance of this new facility, Thomas Koerner, Senior Vice President of Canadian Solar, said, "Establishing this factory is a key milestone that will enable us to better serve our U.S. customers with the most advanced technology in the industry. This is the second of the anticipated long-term investments we expect to make in the U.S. as we think strategically about a local, sustainable and clean energy supply chain and to fulfill the long-term requirements of the local-content rules of the recently established IRA. We thank the State of Indiana, Clark County, and the City of Jeffersonville for their critical support and look forward to working with them as we grow."
"The city of Jeffersonville is pleased that Canadian Solar has chosen River Ridge Commerce Center as home for their newest critical production facility in the United States," said Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore. "Not only are they making a large financial investment into our community, but they will also become one of the largest single-site employers in the Greater Louisville region. When in full production, their total employment base will include over 150 engineers at this facility. We are thrilled to see a global industry leader join our community and provide a product with enormous potential."
"This is a historic investment in River Ridge and Southern Indiana," said Jerry Acy, Executive Director of the River Ridge Development Authority. "The technologies of the future are being built right here at River Ridge. I want to thank Dr. Shawn Qu and his team at Canadian Solar for their commitment to our region. We look forward to a successful partnership that will launch the next generation of solar power."
