Stewart Glass is advancing its position in the U.S. solar manufacturing landscape following the approval of a $16.4 million federal loan guarantee from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The financing was issued through the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program and will support the redevelopment of a dedicated solar glass production facility in Logan, Ohio.

The company acquired the former General Electric manufacturing site in April 2025. Renovation works and equipment installation are now underway, with the facility scheduled to begin operations in March 2026. According to USDA Rural Development officials, the investment is intended to accelerate the return of advanced manufacturing to rural Ohio while strengthening domestic supply chains for renewable energy components.

Once operational, Stewart Glass plans to progressively ramp up output during 2026, targeting a production capacity of 150 tons per day of ultra-clear, fully tempered solar glass. The plant will supply U.S.-based photovoltaic manufacturers with domestically produced glass, reducing dependence on imported materials and improving supply stability for large-scale solar projects.

The timing aligns with continued expansion of the U.S. solar market. Data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) shows that 11.7 GWdc of solar capacity was installed in Q3 2025 alone, representing a 20% increase year-on-year. Photovoltaic systems accounted for 58% of all new electricity-generating capacity additions through the third quarter.

SEIA forecasts nearly 50 GWdc of new solar capacity in 2025 and almost 44 GWdc in 2026, reinforcing the strategic importance of domestic solar glass manufacturing as demand continues to scale.