Chambers County among finalists for $1 billion solar manufacturing plant
The west side of Chambers County is in the running for what could become the single largest industrial project in the 95-year history of Barbers Hill ISD.
Talon PV, a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells, has named Chambers County as a final contender for its new $1 billion solar cell manufacturing plant. The project would generate up to 1,000 high-paying jobs and bring enormous economic momentum to the area.
The company, which emphasizes research and development to drive future advancements in solar cell processing, has spent the past two years narrowing its site selection.
“We’ve met with this group more than once and it is evident they would bring a significant number of quality jobs and be an asset to our community,” said Barbers Hill Superintendent Dr. Greg Poole.
Talon PV is now finalizing state and local tax incentive offers and the company aims to select a site in the next six months. Other sites in the running are in Oklahoma and Indiana.
“We have been tactically developing Talon PV with market-leading technology, experienced leadership, and strong industry partnerships,” said Brandon Dewan, Talon Co-Founder and President. “Chambers County meets several of our key criteria, including access to power, water, and workforce training infrastructure.”
Working in the Barbers Hill area’s favor, Dewan said good workforce, has a site that offers the amount of electricity, water, wastewater needed for our type of manufacturing, and “we like the people and local community.”
At the chosen site, Talon PV will manufacture advanced high-efficiency TOPCon solar cells (similar to microchip manufacturing). The 4 gigawatts of advanced cells will be used in solar panels to create high levels of energy in order to power homes, buildings and facilities through the United States.
Dewan said once a site is chosen, it would take 12 months to build, install equipment, and for production to commence. Production scale up to full capacity will take another nine months. In other words, Dewan said “we plan to begin production in 2026 and be at full scale capacity (4 GW) by 2027.”
Chambers County’s appeal is bolstered by its proximity to educational institutions, including Barbers Hill ISD and local colleges and technical schools. Talon PV has committed to launching workforce training programs in partnership with universities to support local hiring and skills development.
In addition to the job opportunities, the plant would qualify for federal 45X tax credits and bring a significant positive ripple effect to the regional economy. Talon PV also promises to be an active corporate citizen, supporting community programs, charities, and youth sports in the area it ultimately selects.
With full funding secured, feasibility studies completed, and equipment partners chosen, Talon PV says it is ready to break ground shortly after making its final decision.
For Barbers Hill ISD, the stakes are high — and so is the potential.