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About the Episode:

Steven Zhu, President of Trina Solar, discusses their new 5GW solar manufacturing facility in Wilmer, Texas. He unravels how this significant investment not only strengthens their supply chain but spurs local economic growth with job creation, and underscores their commitment to sustainability. Emphasizing the role of domestic manufacturing in fortifying the renewable energy sector, Zhu offers insights into Trina Solar's site selection process, plans for green production, and their broader vision for U.S. expansion. This conversation highlights the strategic importance of domestic manufacturing in reaching U.S.'s clean energy goals.

Helpful RESOURCES:

Connect with Steven Zhu:

• LinkedIn

Check out Trina Solar:

• Website | LinkedIn | X | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

Key Takeaways:

1. Importance of domestic manufacturing: Trina Solar is investing in a 5 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Wilmer, Texas, highlighting the critical role of domestic manufacturing to mitigate supply chain risk in the renewable energy sector.
2. Site selection process: The location for their new facility was chosen strategically considering factors such as land availability, workforce, transportation access, and proximity to markets and ports. Steven details exactly how the site selection process was done. 
3. Commitment to sustainability: Trina Solar aims to power their new facility with green energy and even (eventually) integrate electric trucks so that they can fully deliver a carbon-free solution.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“We are trying to make the factory greener, we don’t just generate the green products, but also we use the green energy to produce the green power.”

— Steven Zhu

ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:

Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.

Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.

You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.