Solar Electric Power NAICS 221114

Nov 7, 2025 - US Reaches Milestone in Solar Supply Chain Development

• Corning’s new silicon ingot and wafer factory in Michigan marks a milestone for US solar manufacturing, enabling domestic production of all major solar supply chain components, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Since late 2024, US capacity has surged across modules, cells, inverters, and batteries, with solar module output reaching 60 gigawatts (GW), a 37% increase. Solar cell capacity tripled to 3.2 GW, and inverter capacity rose nearly 50%, from 19 GW to 28 GW. Corning expects to scale wafer production to over 1 million units per day, with 80% of its capacity already committed for five years. The US now boasts 23 GW of module capacity, 34 GW of solar cell capacity, 25 GW of inverter capacity, and 95 gigawatts hours (GWh) of battery cell capacity. SEIA calls this a transformative moment for U.S. solar and storage industries.
• In October, the Interior Department canceled Esmeralda 7, a massive solar project in Nevada that would have spanned 118,000 acres and powered nearly two million homes, according to The New York Times. Though the reason was not disclosed, the move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to slow renewable energy development on public lands, while encouraging oil and gas development and coal mining. The project, led by NextEra Energy and Invenergy, had advanced under the Biden administration but stalled after the Bureau of Land Management withheld its final environmental impact statement. Developers may reapply for permits, but delays are likely. Lawmakers and clean energy advocates expressed concern over new political reviews, which have disrupted wind and solar projects nationwide. The cancellation highlights growing tension between federal energy policy and climate goals.

• The Trump administration’s rollback of renewable energy support, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has triggered consolidation among smaller US solar and wind firms, according to Reuters. The act eliminated key tax credits and shortened eligibility windows, while the rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act and cancellation of over $16 billion in federal green energy funding have intensified financial pressure. Clean energy deals surged to $34 billion in early 2025, up from $7 billion in late 2024. Analysts expect more mergers, joint ventures, and asset sales. Private equity firms and utilities are acquiring undervalued assets, with CBRE buying ClearGen and Agilitas Energy expanding through solar and hydropower acquisitions. Despite widespread disruption, well-capitalized investors continue to find opportunity.
• In the first half of 2025, global solar installations were 64% higher than the same period in 2024, according to a September report by clean energy think tank Ember. About 380 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity came online in the first six months of the year, putting the world on track for another record-setting year of solar expansion. China was the global leader in solar additions in the first half of 2025 with 256 GW, more than double the growth of the rest of the world combined. China accounted for 67% of the worldwide total. India was the second-largest source of new solar additions (24 GW), followed by the US (21 GW), Brazil (7 GW), and Germany (7 GW). In 2024, solar was the fastest-growing source of new energy output, rising 28% over 2023.