T1 Energy Announces $850M Rockdale Solar Plant, 1,800 Jobs

Rockdale, TX — T1 Energy dropped a clean energy bombshell on March 20, 2025, unveiling an $850 million solar cell manufacturing plant in Rockdale. Dubbed G2 Austin, the facility promises to light up Texas’s renewable scene with 1,800 new jobs, amplifying the state’s energy legacy from oil rigs to solar fields.

The Details:

• Scale: A 5-gigawatt solar cell plant on 100 acres at Sandow Lakes, per T1’s release.

• Jobs: 1,800 direct roles—engineers, techs—starting mid-2025, pending incentives.

• Tech: Uses 210RN and 210N silicon wafers for high-efficiency panels.

• Timeline: Construction kicks off mid-2025, production by late 2026.

• History: Repurposes a shuttered ALCOA site, boosting local revival.

Why It Matters:
Texas leads in both oil and gas—producing 40% of U.S. crude—and renewables, with wind and solar powering millions of homes. T1’s G2 Austin plant cements this dual dominance, revitalizing Rockdale with green jobs while oil and gas sustain economic stability statewide.

Bottom Line:
T1 Energy’s $850M solar plant supercharges Rockdale, proving Texas can balance fossil fuels and renewables for a powerhouse future.