Tesla weighs New York, Arizona, Idaho to lift solar cell output

Tesla Inc. isn't waiting around to see if Elon Musk's 100-gigawatt solar ambition is feasible - it's already acting on it. The company is evaluating multiple sites across the US to begin manufacturing solar cells, according to people familiar with the matter, turning what sounded like a moonshot just weeks ago into an active industrial push.

One component of the plan: expanding production at its Buffalo, New York, factory, said the people, who weren't authorized to speak publicly. Capacity there could reach 10 gigawatts, they said, which would be equivalent to 10 nuclear plants.

Longer-term, another scenario would involve building a second facility in New York state, one of the people said.


Arizona and Idaho are among other locations under consideration, the people said. The effort is being led by Tesla Vice President Bonne Eggleston, who recently posted on LinkedIn he was hiring for domestic solar-manufacturing jobs.

AI's insatiable appetite for electricity is again spurring Musk to prioritize solar after the company's earlier efforts failed to realize the ambitions he outlined. Solar cells are thin wafers used in the manufacture of solar panels.

Musk and representatives for Tesla didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.