China’s Trina Looks to Double Down on US Solar Investments

China’s Trina Solar Co. is considering setting up a factory in the US to produce the cells that are used to make solar panels, as Washington raises trade barriers on imports.

Trina is evaluating a facility that could produce 5 gigawatts of cells a year to supply its panel manufacturing plant in Wilmer, Texas, according to Steven Zhu, the chief executive officer of the company’s North American business. The Wilmer factory is set to reach full production at the end of 2024, creating 1,500 local jobs.

The Texan plant will first use solar cells from Southeast Asia, but Trina ...