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  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 14:33 GMT by Lincoln Journal Star
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Lincoln County’s “Eco‑Solar Enterprises” Eyes a $3 Million Expansion, Powering the Region’s Clean‑Energy Future

A local business that has quietly built a reputation for quality solar panels is set to double its production capacity in the coming months, according to a comprehensive report published by the Lincoln Journal Star. The article—titled “Eco‑Solar Expands to Power Lincoln County’s Clean‑Energy Future”—provides a detailed look at the company’s history, its latest investment, and the broader economic and environmental impact of the expansion.

A Quick Background

Eco‑Solar Enterprises, founded in 2015 by former aerospace engineer and Lincoln resident Thomas “Tom” Reynolds, began as a small start‑up out of a rented loft on 6th Street. With a single line of high‑efficiency monocrystalline panels, the company quickly gained traction in the Midwest, winning contracts with the state’s public‑school district and a handful of commercial clients. By 2020, the firm had grown to a team of 22 employees and had become the county’s third largest private employer, with a payroll of roughly $4 million per year.

The Journal Star article opens with an anecdote that encapsulates the company’s ethos: Reynolds’ first prototype panels, hand‑assembled in his garage, had outperformed a commercial sample in a field test, sparking a conversation with a local electrician who eventually became the company’s first sales director. This “garage‑grown” origin story is a recurring theme throughout the piece, underscoring the idea that the business is rooted in the community it serves.

The $3 Million Expansion

At the heart of the report is the announcement that Eco‑Solar will invest $3 million to build a new, state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing plant in the industrial section of Lincoln’s south side, near the I‑80 corridor. The new facility—estimated at 40,000 square feet—will add four production lines, each capable of producing roughly 3,000 panels per month. That translates to an increase of the company’s annual output from 20,000 to 48,000 panels, a more than 140 % jump.

Reynolds is quoted in the article as saying, “We’re not just building more panels; we’re building a future where our neighbors can own the power that lights their homes and businesses. That’s why we’re investing right here, in Lincoln County.” He also mentions that the plant will incorporate a new automated wafer‑cutting system that the company has been developing in partnership with the University of Nebraska’s Engineering School.

Financial incentives have played a key role in the expansion. The article links to a press release from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NED), which details a $600,000 state tax credit for green‑energy manufacturing projects that exceed 5,000 panels per year. Additionally, the company has secured a $700,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Energy Project program, a program that encourages the deployment of renewable technologies in rural areas.

Employment and Economic Impact

According to the Journal Star’s economic analysis, the new plant will create 25 full‑time jobs—24 direct positions in manufacturing and 1 managerial role—and an estimated 30 indirect jobs in supporting sectors such as logistics, maintenance, and local retail. The expansion will inject roughly $5 million annually into the local economy, a figure corroborated by the Nebraska Economic Development Agency’s “Economic Impact Calculator” (a link in the article).

City Councilmember Marian Sanchez appears in the article’s interview section. Sanchez notes, “This isn’t just about a new factory; it’s about giving our youth a tangible career path in clean technology. The county will benefit for generations.” She also mentions that the expansion aligns with Lincoln’s 2025 “Sustainable Growth Initiative,” a municipal plan that aims to double the county’s renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Environmental Context

Eco‑Solar’s products are part of a broader push toward sustainability. The company’s panels are rated at 19.5% efficiency, exceeding the national average for residential panels. In a sidebar, the article provides a quick primer on how the company’s panels reduce carbon emissions: a single panel, when installed on a typical 3,000‑square‑foot home, can offset approximately 2.3 metric tons of CO₂ annually, a figure that the local chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed.

The Journal Star also links to a recent feature in Nebraska Green magazine, which highlights Eco‑Solar’s partnership with the local high school to offer a summer internship program focused on renewable energy engineering. In that piece, the high school principal, Lisa Huang, praises the company’s commitment to STEM education.

The Local and Broader Narrative

The article situates Eco‑Solar’s expansion within a larger narrative of “Rural America’s Quiet Renaissance.” By citing recent state data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the report underscores that the U.S. Midwest is experiencing a surge in renewable energy projects, driven in part by favorable federal policies and increasing demand from municipalities that seek to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Additionally, the Journal Star links to a feature on the Lincoln Economic Development Office’s “Green Business Grants” page, which lists upcoming application windows and eligibility criteria for small businesses pursuing green technology projects. This provides readers with a practical resource if they are inspired to start their own eco‑friendly ventures.

Final Takeaway

In sum, the Journal Star article offers a thorough, data‑rich overview of Eco‑Solar Enterprises’ planned expansion, its economic and environmental implications, and how the initiative fits into broader state and national clean‑energy goals. The piece balances corporate ambition with community benefit, painting a picture of a local business that is both a market player and a steward of the environment.

For those interested in following the project, the article includes direct links to:

• Eco‑Solar’s official press release (detailing the expansion and funding)
• Nebraska Department of Economic Development (state tax incentives)
• U.S. Department of Energy (Advanced Energy Project grant details)
• Nebraska Economic Development Agency (impact calculator)
• Sierra Club – Nebraska Chapter (environmental endorsement)
• Nebraska Green (high‑school internship program)

By weaving together interviews, data, and contextual analysis, the article gives readers a clear, actionable understanding of how a single business can shape the economic and environmental future of Lincoln County.