Comstock Metals and Illuminate USA enter into a solar material recycling services agreement. Comstock Metals will provide comprehensive recycling services to the solar panel manufacturer facility in Pataskala, Ohio. Published July 21, 2026 Silver Springs, Nevada-based Comstock Metals, a subsidiary of Comstock Inc., has entered into a solar material recycling services agreement with Pataskala, Ohio-based Illuminate USA. Comstock Metals says it will provide comprehensive recycling services for solar panel materials from Illuminate USA's advanced manufacturing operations in Pataskala. The services include safe transportation, sorting and environmentally responsible recycling for a broad range of solar panel manufacturing byproducts. Illuminate USA operates the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing facility in North America, the company says, and the Ohio facility produces advanced technology solar panels for a wide range of applications. The company says it is dedicated to delivering advanced and efficient solar panels while building sustainable systems into its operations. Comstock operates a national recycling network, including in central Ohio, to serve customers throughout the broader Midwest, one of the larger and most centrally located solar markets in the country. "Our partnership with Illuminate USA is a testament to the industry's growing commitment to circularity and stewardship," Comstock Metals President Fortunato Villamagna says. "By providing a zero-landfill solution for solar panel manufacturing byproducts, we are helping Illuminate USA ensure that all materials are safely repurposed into new industrial goods, eliminating all downstream liability and giving their team peace of mind knowing all materials are responsibly recycled. This is a major step toward enabling and aligning a truly systemic solar energy ecosystem." The companies say that the agreement further positions them as leaders in the solar panel recycling and advanced manufacturing industries. The companies will work together over the next few years to responsibly recycle various material streams. "Our new partnership with Comstock Metals strengthens our commitment to environmental responsibility," says Bryan Kresak, Illuminate's vice president of environmental, health, safety and facilities. "Together, we are taking these important steps to ensure that our operations reflect our deeply held values and advance sustainable practices across the industry." Sponsored Content Optimal productivity, heavy construction, safety features and operator comfort come together in the SENNEBOGEN 360 G-series telescopic wheel loader, designed for work across the waste and recycling industry. Telescopic wheel loaders manufactured by SENNEBOGEN have a growing presence at transfer stations, material recovery facilities (MRFs), construction and demolition (C&D) recycling plants and metal recycling facilities across North America. According to the companies, this partnership marks a "significant step" in Comstock Metals' and Illuminate USA's strategy to expand their roles in enabling a clean supply chain for solar energy production at each stage of the life cycle. Get curated news on YOUR industry. Enter your email to receive its newsletters.

Illuminate USA in Pataskala, OH, powers the future of American solar manufacturing. Illuminate USA in Pataskala, OH, leads U.S. solar innovation with advanced, American-made solar panels, creating 1,500-plus skilled jobs and advancing renewable energy. By Maura Keller on March 30, 2026 Illuminate USA was established to meet the growing demand for high-quality, American-manufactured solar panels. Formed as a joint venture between Invenergy - the largest privately held independent power producer in the U.S. - and LONGi - a global leader in solar manufacturing - Illuminate USA combines American energy leadership with global manufacturing expertise. "As the largest single-site solar panel manufacturer in North America, we're proud to advance renewable energy growth, domestic manufacturing and job creation," says Frank Zhu, CEO of Illuminate USA. The company is headquartered in Pataskala, Ohio, inside a 1.1 million-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility, one of the most sophisticated in the world. The facility assembles ready-to-install, bifacial solar panels for commercial applications using advanced automation and precision processes. "We use advanced automation, precision assembly systems and rigorous quality testing to produce high-efficiency, durable bifacial solar panels," Zhu says. "Our bifacial design captures sunlight from both sides, maximizing energy output and performance for commercial projects across the U.S. Our facility and advanced manufacturing processes allow us to produce panels at scale while maintaining consistent quality and reliability, positioning Illuminate USA as a leader in American solar technology." Choosing Pataskala. Zhu made the pivotal decision in recent years to leave the Bay Area of California and move his family to the Licking County area, drawn by the region's innovation, inclusiveness and sense of community. With more than 16 years of global leadership experience in the solar and renewable energy industries - including top executive roles at companies such as GCL Solar Energy and Hanergy Holding Group - Zhu brought the expertise needed to help build Illuminate USA from the ground up. Zhu has positioned the company and Ohio as leaders in advanced manufacturing and solar panel production, demonstrating a deep commitment to investing in local talent, partnering with schools and nonprofits, and creating sustainable opportunities for future generations. Under his leadership, Illuminate USA serves as a model for how innovation, domestic production and community partnership can thrive together. "We chose Pataskala in Licking County for its people, proximity and partnerships," Zhu says. "The region's strong manufacturing heritage and skilled workforce provided a solid foundation for our operations, while organizations like JobsOhio and One Columbus have been key partners in helping us establish and grow." More than 1,500 skilled associates work in a clean, high-tech environment designed for efficiency and collaboration. Pataskala's location within a day's drive of half the U.S. population also ensures easy access to customers. "Illuminate USA is proud to be part of Central Ohio's growing solar and advanced manufacturing sector. Our work goes beyond producing solar panels; it's about building a sustainable future, creating opportunities for our local workforce and strengthening communities," Zhu says. Recent successes. In just a short time, Illuminate USA has grown from concept to a fully operational advanced manufacturing hub. Highlights include: Launching production at the Pataskala facility in February 2024, a major milestone for Ohio's renewable energy economy. Creating more than 1,500 premium-wage jobs for associates representing 16 Central Ohio counties. Building partnerships with local schools, training institutions and workforce organizations to prepare the next generation for careers in manufacturing. Supplying panels for major solar projects in Ohio, including Invenergy's Hardin Solar Energy Center in Hardin County, Cadence Solar Energy Center in Union County and Pleasant Prairie Solar Energy Center in Franklin County. "By reshoring advanced solar manufacturing, we are helping to bring high-tech production back to the U.S., invest in long-term American jobs and strengthen the nation's energy independence," Zhu says. "Through this work, we are also helping to reestablish demand for U.S.-manufactured solar materials and components, supporting the return of a robust domestic solar supply chain. We continue to invest in our people and in Ohio's role as a leader in advanced manufacturing. And we look forward to helping shape a stronger domestic energy future, one solar panel at a time." Get to Know Licking County Want to learn more about living and working in Licking County, OH? Check out the latest edition of Livability Licking County, Ohio.