SANTA CLARA, CA—Sunpreme, a solar cell and bifacial panel maker, has announced plans to build a Texas manufacturing facility in 2019. Envisioned in two phases, the plant’s capacity will eventually ramp to 400 megawatts of production.

HOMEWOOD, PA—Thread International plans to recycle plastic bottles collected by workers in Haiti, Honduras and Taiwan into fabric and use it to manufacture shoes, clothing and a new line of high-end backpacks. The company's founder and CEO is Ian Rosenberger, who appeared on the reality show Survivor in 2005.

CLIFTON PARK, NY—Fuel-cell manufacturer Plug Power recently cut the ribbon on its new production facility here. The company says it is anticipating increased demand for its high-tech products, which combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as the byproducts.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy recently launched a $3 million prize to revitalize domestic solar panel manufacturing. The program will support entrepreneurs as they develop transformative ideas into concepts and then into early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing.

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) have formed a strategic partnership that focuses on sustainability in manufacturing.

SAN FRANCISCO--The battle for the midsized, middle-class electric car market is revving up as high-tech upstart Tesla scrambles to get its Model 3 out to buyers in the face of strong competition from Detroit mainstay General Motors, reports Seeker. Deliveries of the GM-produced Chevy Bolt have increased significantly, while Tesla continues to deal with persistent production delays.