The US solar manufacturing industry just hit a historic milestone: Domestic solar module production capacity has surpassed 50 gigawatts (GW). If all these factories ran at full capacity, they could produce enough modules to meet the country’s entire solar demand.

This achievement signals a shift in the US solar industry, which has historically depended on imports for key components.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Supply Chain Dashboard, companies have announced plans for 56 GW of new solar cell production in the US, 24 GW of wafer production, and 13 GW of ingots. Meanwhile, domestic solar tracker manufacturing capacity has now topped 80 GW.

SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said:

Reaching 50 GW of domestic solar manufacturing capacity is a testament to what we can achieve with smart, business-friendly public policies in place.

The US is now the third-largest module producer in the world because of these policy actions.

This milestone marks progress for the solar industry and reinforces the essential role energy policies play in building up the domestic manufacturing industry that American workers and their families rely on.

SEIA first set a goal in 2020 to reach 50 GW of US solar module production capacity by 2030 – enough power output to match 27 Hoover Dams. That goal spans the entire solar supply chain, from modules and cells to ingots, wafers, polysilicon, trackers, and inverters.

At the time, the US had only 7 GW of domestic module production and no manufacturing for critical upstream components like ingots and wafers. Fast forward to today, and the industry looks a lot different. Two new US solar cell factories – one in Georgia and another in South Carolina – have already come online in the past few months, helping to fill in the gaps.

SEIA’s strategy has focused on building out domestic module production first to create demand for upstream components. Thanks to policy incentives that SEIA helped advocate for such as the advanced manufacturing production tax credit, companies are now investing in every part of the solar supply chain.

Another win came when SEIA pushed for solar ingot and wafer production to qualify for a 25% investment tax credit under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. That move is helping build out the US solar supply chain even further. Since the passage of key federal energy policies, US solar module manufacturing has grown five-fold.

Read more: The US’s largest solar cell factory is now online in South Carolina

If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

On what feels like the first-ever February episode of Quick Charge, we explore the rapid decline of Tesla fortunes in Europe and California, the rapid rise of BYD plug-in vehicles, and talk through the latest round of Canadian trade tariffs as President Trump’s North American trade war hits its stride.

We’ve also got some great 0% financing deals on EVs from Chevy, Ford, Honda, and Volkswagen – will they be the last new car sales we’ll get before these tariffs pitch the country into an economic depression the likes of which it’s never known? Give us a listen, then let us know your take in the comments.

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Volkswagen of America today announced the initial pricing and trim for the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 – here’s the lowdown.

Volkswagen has restarted production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant with 82 kWh models rolling off the line. The 62 kWh version will follow later, and all models are set to get additional features starting midyear. Pricing and more details are coming soon.

The 82 kWh ID.4 models stick to a similar trim lineup as 2024. Both the Entry and S trims come in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, while the top-tier S Plus is exclusively all-wheel drive.

Without further ado, let’s get to it. Here’s the meat-and-potatoes pricing and trim of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4:

Entry

RWD Pro: starting at $45,095 MSRP

AWD Pro: starting at $48,995 MSRP

Exterior features

• 19-inch alloy wheels on RWD models
• 20-inch wheels on AWD models
• Gloss black grille
• LED head- and taillights
• Automatic headlights with rain-sensing wipers
• Heated windshield (AWD only)
• Heated washer nozzles
• Heated mirrors
• Black roof rails
• 3-door KESSY® with proximity unlocking
• Tow hitch (AWD only)

Interior features

• 12.9-inch Discover Pro Max infotainment display with navigation and backlit sliders
• Wireless App-Connect (AndroidAuto, CarPlay, and MirrorLink) and charging with compatible devices
• 45W USB-C charging
• Intuitive voice control
• 5.3-inch ID. Cockpit
• Volkswagen Car-Net with Plus Nav and Plus Speech packages included at no additional charge for three years
• SiriusXM® with three-month Platinum Plan trial subscription included
• Manual cloth and leatherette seats
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone Climatronic
• 10-color ambient lighting ID. Light
• Auto-dimming interior mirror
• Stitched dashboard
• Variable cargo floor cover.
• Driver assistance features include standard IQ.DRIVE; plus Park Distance Control; Park Assist (Parking Steering Assistant); Dynamic Road Sign Display; and Light Assist (High Beam Control for headlights).

S

RWD Pro S: starting at $50,195 MSRP

AWD Pro S: starting at $54,095 MSRP

Exterior features

• The equipment set from the entry models
• 20-inch wheels
• Illuminated front and rear VW logo and light line in the front fascia
• Premium LED projector headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)
• Poor weather lights
• Mirrors with memory function

Interior features

• 30-color ambient lighting
• Perforated leatherette seats
• Door-panel stitching
• Heated steering wheel
• 12-way power seats with memory
• Ventilated front seats
• Rear-seat pass-through
• Center armrest with cupholders
• Panoramic fixed glass roof with electric sunshade
• Power tailgate with Easy Open and Close

S Plus

AWD Pro S Plus: starting at $57,295 MSRP

Exterior features

• Features build on the S models
• 21-inch wheels
• Black roof with silver roof accents, C-pillar, and roof rails
• Silver accents on front and rear bumpers
• Power-folding mirrors with signature lighting

Interior features

• Additional features include heated rear seats
• Three-zone Climatronic
• Harman Kardon premium audio with 14 total speakers including subwoofer
• Area View (Overhead View Camera)

Click here to find a local dealer that may have the Volkswagen ID.4 in stock.–trusted affiliate link

If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*