A company with virtually no track record claimed it would open a solar panel assembly plant in Shenandoah County, Virginia, as announced by Governor Abigail Spanberger today.

The press release stated that MSolar Manufacturing will invest $237.75 million in two warehouses in Mount Jackson, Virginia, with plans to produce solar glass and HJT cells. Once operational, MSolar representatives anticipate the facility will manufacture "over 500,000 HJT solar panels annually." Solar Power World estimates its annual production will be less than 250 megawatts.

By choosing to invest in Mount Jackson, MSolar is creating new career opportunities in the Shenandoah Valley and helping ensure that Virginia has the infrastructure to make energy more affordable and reliable for communities across the state," Spanberger said. The MSolar website is expected to create 150 jobs in the area.

MSolar's experience in the U.S. solar industry appears to be limited to a failed attempt in 2021 to build a 54-megawatt solar project in Virginia.

"We are laying the foundation for a vertically integrated solar manufacturing platform in Virginia," said Michael O'Connor, CEO of MSolar, in the governor's press release. "This facility is the first step in our long-term strategy to expand domestic solar production and deliver high-performance technology for energy projects. We believe the future of solar will be defined by performance, domestic content, energy security, and top-tier customer service, and MSolar is positioning itself at the center of this transformation. As we scale our platform, we are delighted to grow alongside this state.". ”

Local reports from Virginia Business indicate that the Mount Jackson factory is expected to commence panel production in August.

A few years ago, there were imported solar panels on the market bearing the "mSolar" brand. These panels may have been sold by Mission Solar and were unrelated to the mSolar brand launched in Virginia.