First Solar to Build Solar Module Factory in Mesa, Arizona

First Solar, Inc. FSLR today announced it will build its new U.S. manufacturing center in Mesa, Ariz. First Solar will invest about $300 million in the factory, which will create approximately 600 jobs and will include four manufacturing lines with a capacity to produce more than 250 megawatts (MW) of advanced thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules per year.

The new factory, in combination with First Solar's recently expanded facility in Perrysburg, Ohio, will increase First Solar's U.S. production capacity to more than 500MW per year.