Solar Technology Solar Wafer Manufacturing Facility

Corning’s Solar Technology subsidiary developed a new solar-wafer manufacturing facility in Richland Township, adjacent to Hemlock Semiconductor. The project was originally announced as an investment of up to $900 million supporting more than 1,100 jobs. Corning expanded the project in April 2025 to $1.5 billion and 1,500 jobs. Corning’s 2026 financial reporting confirms production activity at the solar-wafer facility.

Investment
$1.50B
Permanent jobs announced
1,500
Status
Operational
Operations began
2025
Why this project qualifies

With $1.5 billion in facility-specific investment and 1,500 permanent operating jobs announced, this project clears both of AFT's qualifying thresholds ($100 million in facility-specific investment OR 100 permanent operating jobs). This project also meets AFT's primary-source verification and physical U.S. manufacturing-footprint requirements.

View full methodology →
Why it matters

The energy context.

Manufacturing the equipment of the energy transition — solar modules, transformers, switchgear, electrolyzers, advanced batteries — has become a domestic industrial priority in its own right. The Inflation Reduction Act's §45X advanced-manufacturing production credits make the unit economics workable at US labor costs. Transformer shortages are now a meaningful constraint on the broader power-grid expansion.

Project record

At a glance

Company
Corning
Industry
Energy
Location
Richland Township, Michigan
Investment
$1.50B
Permanent jobs announced
1,500
Status
Operational
Announced
Feb 27, 2024
Operations began
2025
Added to tracker
Sep 6, 2026
Sources

Official references

  • Primary source
    https://www.michiganbusiness.org/press-releases/2024/02/corning/
  • Corning expansion announcement
    https://www.corning.com/worldwide/en/about-us/news-events/news-releases/2025/04/corning-expands-advanced-manufacturing-capacity-to-meet-increased-demand-for-US-made-solar-products.html
  • Corning Q1 2026 operational confirmation
    https://investor.corning.com/news-and-events/news/news-details/2026/Corning-Announces-Strong-First-Quarter-2026-Financial-Results-1/default.aspx
Related

Other projects to know

Back to the tracker/projects/corning-solar-technology-michigan