First Solar CEO on solar energy's role amid increasing AI power demand
Speakers
Mark Widmar
— CEO, Exelon
Summary
First Solar CEO Mark Widmar discusses the company's strong positioning for AI-driven power demand, citing Google's large-scale solar project in Texas and the company's expanding US manufacturing. He argues solar remains viable without subsidies and is deflationary, providing a key energy solution for hyperscalers.
- First Solar reported Q1 earnings beat and reaffirmed full-year guidance.
- CEO Mark Widmar highlights the opportunity from AI-driven power demand.
- He discusses Google's acquisition of Intersect Energy for an 8 GW solar project in West Texas.
- Widmar emphasizes First Solar's growing US manufacturing footprint with $5B investment.
- He states solar is the lowest cost energy and deflationary.
- The CEO sees solar as a key part of the energy mix for hyperscalers, including behind-the-meter solutions.
- He argues solar will be viable without subsidies.
Trade Ideas
First Solar benefits from AI power demand.
First Solar is well-positioned to benefit from surging power demand driven by AI and hyperscaler data centers, as demonstrated by Google's $4.5B acquisition of Intersect Energy—a partner exclusive to First Solar's technology—building an 8 GW solar complex in West Texas. The company's growing US manufacturing capacity, $5B investment, domestic supply chain, and the deflationary nature of solar (lowest cost energy even without subsidies) provide a competitive edge and long-term demand visibility.
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This CNBC video, published May 01, 2026, features Mark Widmar discussing FSLR. 1 trade idea extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers: Mark Widmar · Tickers: FSLR