Some solar developers are paying for 35% domestic content when their project only needs 7%. That pricing gap costs real margin on every project. In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Chris Lettman from Imperial Star Solar at InterSolar San Diego 2026. Imperial Star manufactures FEOC-compliant solar modules at a two-gigawatt facility in Tomball, Texas, a six-gigawatt cell factory in Africa, and a facility in Indonesia. Chris breaks down how to right-size your domestic content strategy, why some module manufacturers will disappear this year, and what solar professionals need to know about sourcing in 2026.
Here's what you'll learn in this conversation about FEOC compliance and domestic content strategy:
. Find out why FEOC compliance is the first question every buyer asks Chris at trade shows, and why he expects some module manufacturers to go away this year or lose the name recognition they once had.
. Learn how Imperial Star's "domestic light" module configuration lets developers get between 3% and 12% domestic content from the module alone. Chris explains why a rooftop project using micro inverters and domestic racking may only need 7% from the module, making a 35% domestic content module unnecessary and expensive.
. Understand the difference between a fully domestic cell module using Suniva cells from Norcross, Georgia and a domestic light configuration using domestic frames, encapsulants, and junction boxes. Chris walks through how to match the right configuration to your project year and required threshold.
. You'll hear Chris explain why he takes the "salesperson hat off and puts the teaching hat on" when working with buyers. His approach is to help customers understand exactly what they need before making a purchasing decision.
. Learn how Imperial Star serves both C&I and utility-scale markets with modules that share similar power bins and physical dimensions, manufactured at their Tomball, Texas facility and in Indonesia. Tim and Chris discuss why C&I is a growing opportunity with solar still below 10% of US grid power.
The FEOC compliance deadline that took effect in January 2026 is separating module manufacturers with verified supply chains from those without. With the ITC phasing out by 2028 and new financial models on the horizon, understanding your domestic content options right now saves you money on every project in your pipeline. Subscribe to The Clean Power Hour for weekly conversations with clean energy leaders. Drop a comment below with your questions about FEOC compliance or domestic content sourcing.
Find Chris Lettman here; https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislettman/
Imperial Star Solar at https://www.imperialstar.com/
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