The Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association (CHESSA) announces Goldi America as the Title Sponsor of the 2026 CHESSA Energize Summit, the association's annual regional conference taking place September 15-16 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The CHESSA Energize Summit, formerly known as Solar Focus, brings together solar and storage developers, EPCs, policymakers, financiers, and industry professionals from across the Mid-Atlantic region for two days of education, networking, and conversation about the future of clean energy. This year's conference will feature pre-conference sessions on September 15, including, Solar + Storage 101, Storage 101 and the Women in Solar + Storage event, followed by panels and programming throughout the day, with a full second day of sessions continuing on September 16.
"We are thrilled to welcome Goldi America as our title sponsor for this year's Energize Summit," said CHESSA Executive Director Robin Dutta. "Having a Virginia-based domestic solar manufacturer as our title sponsor is a powerful statement about where this industry is headed and the role our region is playing in that story. Goldi America's commitment to reshoring solar manufacturing and building a more resilient domestic supply chain aligns perfectly with what our members are working toward every day."
"America's energy demands are growing faster than at any point in a generation, driven by AI, data centers, and the electrification of our economy. Meeting that demand requires energy that is abundant, reliable, and made here at home. At Goldi America, we're proud that every panel coming off our Virginia production lines strengthens America's energy independence and reduces reliance on foreign supply chains. Domestic solar manufacturing isn't just good policy; it's a national imperative" said Matt Johnson, Vice President of Sales.
Goldi America is a domestic solar manufacturer operating out of a nearly half-million-square-foot facility in Forest, Virginia. Goldi America was founded by Napoli Gomez, Carlos Class Sr., and Carlos Class Jr., whose partnership began in 2014 while developing Heterojunction Solar Cell technology. The company is currently ramping its Virginia plant to 600 MW capacity while preparing for an additional 800 MW line, including research and development in next-generation HJT and Perovskite technologies. The facility is projected to create over 100 manufacturing jobs and is designed with full lifecycle management in mind which includes an upcoming state-of-the-art recycling line. Through a strategic partnership with Goldi Solar, one of the world's fastest-growing solar manufacturers, Goldi America is building an end-to-end U.S. solar manufacturing platform built for long-term scale and resilience.
The CHESSA Energize Summit will be held at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia, on September 15-16, 2026. Registration is now open at chessa.org/ces/.
CHESSA is a solar and energy storage trade association committed to the effective and equitable clean energy transition through the mainstream adoption and integration of solar and storage technologies into our electric grid infrastructure.
