May. 22 at 1:03 AM
SpaceX plans to build a massive 10-gigawatt solar panel factory near Austin, Texas, to support Elon Musk’s vision of powering future AI infrastructure and data centers. The Bastrop facility would include two plants producing 5 gigawatts of solar cells each, according to permits obtained by Bloomberg.
The project is part of a broader expansion of SpaceX operations in Bastrop, where the company already manufactures Starlink products and is seeking tax incentives through an enterprise zone designation.
Musk recently said solar energy is critical to solving the power bottleneck limiting AI growth, adding that both SpaceX and Tesla aim to build 100 gigawatts of annual solar manufacturing capacity in the U.S. within three years.
The expansion also comes as the U.S. seeks to reduce dependence on imported solar components from China and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Tesla is increasing investment in solar and Megapack production in Texas.
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