CS PowerTech Opens First U.S. HJT Cell Plant at River Ridge

CS PowerTech, the U.S. subsidiary of Canadian Solar, opened 750,000 square feet at River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville. Phase 1 is running at 2.1 gigawatts against a full buildout target above 6 gigawatts annually. President Rusty Schmit called the site a cornerstone of building one of North America's most advanced energy manufacturing supply chains.

The underreported piece is the patent position. Every other domestic cell manufacturer, Qcells, ES Foundry, Suniva, runs TOPCon or PERC designs named in First Solar's active ITC infringement complaint, Investigation No. 337-TA-1494, instituted March 30, 2026. Jeffersonville's HJT output sits outside that proceeding entirely, which is a real competitive position on this specific dispute.

For operators in the corridor, watch the labor number. River Ridge is also absorbing CTDI's concurrent 400-job expansion, against a Clark County wage baseline that already moved to $27.25 an hour this year. Phase 2 breaks ground before year-end.