Tesla wants to build a $10B solar factory in Texas

In Brief Posted: 9:18 AM PDT · August 12, 2026 Image Credits: View Stock (opens in a new window) / Getty Images Tim De Chant Tesla wants to build a $10B solar factory in Texas Tesla intends to build a massive solar panel factory 45 minutes southwest of Houston, according to documents filed with the state of Texas. The new factory, called Project Crystal Sun, could cost as much as $10.1 billion. Tesla has applied for tax incentives to partially offset the cost, saying that it is exploring other sites “across multiple U.S. states.” The factory would create about 9,700 full-time jobs, Tesla said. Without incentives, Tesla’s accountants estimated that the property tax liability for the project would be about $1.1 billion over 37 years. The project aims to break ground this year and be completed by 2028, and Tesla said the first solar panels would roll off the line in 2029. The company hasn’t indicated whether the panels would be destined for terrestrial installations or satellites. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who also runs SpaceX, is famously bullish on orbital data centers. In the filings, Tesla did not publicly disclose the factory’s annual output, though it has said that it plans to build 100 gigawatts worth of manufacturing capacity in the U.S. by 2028. Topics Climate , Solar Power , Tesla October 13 – 15 San Francisco Scale faster. Grow your portfolio. Gain practical expertise. No matter your goal, Disrupt can empower you. Save up to $300 toda y! REGISTER NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Climate Form Energy raises $750M to build more 100-hour batteries for the grid Tim De Chant 32 minutes ago Climate Reservoir raises $8M to make water heaters that people — and the grid — will actually want Tim De Chant 7 hours ago Climate Google’s biggest clean power project is 40 miles north of xAI’s unpermitted gas power plant Tim De Chant Jul 15, 2026 Latest in Climate In Brief Tesla wants to build a $10B solar factory in Texas Tim De Chant 32 minutes ago Climate Form Energy raises $750M to build more 100-hour batteries for the grid Tim De Chant 32 minutes ago Climate Reservoir raises $8M to make water heaters that people — and the grid — will actually want Tim De Chant 7 hours ago