In a turn of events, Biden's clean energy legislation has rejuvenated this conservative area of Georgia, which remains supportive of Trump.
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"That's where you'll find the Qcells factory that churns out 32,000 solar panels each day and boasts a total panel production capacity of 5.1 gigawatts. For reference, authorities point out, the peak capacity of the Hoover Dam is approximately 2 gigawatts.
Lisa Nash, the plant manager, said as she showed CNN around the high-tech factory floor in August, 'I came here and saw dirt. There was no building. I was the first one hired.'
When asked if she could have imagined where things would be now, she replied without hesitation, 'No.'
Nash believes the significant growth isn't just a victory for the company or industry, but also a boon for the local community in Dalton.
'The population is growing. They're buying houses, renting, shopping, eating out. They're contributing to the local community and paying taxes,' Nash explained.
This state-of-the-art operation became a reality thanks to the far-reaching climate change legislation enacted by the Biden administration in 2022.
'We've had support at various levels in the state and federally,' said Scott Moskowitz, the head of market strategy and public affairs at Qcells. 'However, it wasn't until the Inflation Reduction Act was passed that truly provided the spark needed for this industry to make such large-scale investments.'
This is why Vice President Kamala Harris visited the plant last year to highlight its progress and speak to some of its employees.
'To meet her and have a conversation with her was a shock for me. I thought she was high up but was surprised to find her interactional and straightforward,' said Kimberly Richardson, the Qcells employee chosen by management to introduce Harris during her visit.
Richardson represents the new wave of manufacturing workers – someone with no previous experience in solar panels or the green tech sector but who has quickly adapted and climbed the ranks inside the company, now managing the plant's recycling operation.
For Richardson, an African American woman, Harris' presidential campaign carries significant meaning.
'She represents every woman in America. Every woman. She set the standard for every woman in America, every little girl, to say, "I can do this," and that's a great thing,' Richardson said.
While Georgia is a strongly contested battleground state, Richardson's perspective is not common here, where support for former President Donald Trump is strong.
'She wasn't well-received in North Georgia,' Republican state representative Kasey Carpenter said of Harris' visit.
The Qcells factory offers a glimpse into the intersection of local, state, and federal government working together to speed up a manufacturing transformation that has rejuvenated a local economy. That this collaboration spans political lines is unusual in these polarized times.
However, that it happened in a community that supports a presidential candidate who has criticized the very law crucial to its rapid growth underscores the complex – and sometimes contradictory - link between politics and local economics."
"Located in Marjorie Taylor Greene's GOP-represented congressional district, Dalton is Trump country.
'The independence we maintain here – it’s that independence and outsider Trump has struck a chord with,' Carpenter said about the area's strong support for Trump. 'And my folks, they appreciate that. And honestly, I appreciate that too.'"
Carpenter isn't an ardent Trump supporter.
'We have two candidates to choose from, but it's like choosing between 27 boxes of cereal in the store. It's frustrating that you have only two choices,' he said.
But the economic debate for voters here revolves around one issue.
'Inflation is such a critical issue for our community right now that it overshadows any other consideration,' Carpenter said."
"The Qcells factory – the largest of its kind in the Western Hemisphere – is situated in an area that's been known as the 'carpet capital of the world' for decades.
The signboard welcoming visitors to Dalton emphasizes the area's dominance in the carpeting and flooring industry.
However, it also left the area particularly susceptible to something previously thought impossible: a housing market crash.
'It was a disaster for us here,' Carpenter recalled about the 2008 financial crisis. 'It looked like a ghost town. It took us years to recover.'
The market collapse prompted local leaders to consider and implement diversifying the town's economy. This aligned with the efforts by state authorities, most recently by Governor Brian Kemp, to offer incentives to large companies to relocate to or build within Georgia.
The Biden administration's incentives completed the green energy initiative."
"Nash responded, 'They are all equally important.' When asked about whose support was most crucial for bringing the project to fruition between local, state, and federal government, 'It's like a recipe, and without one ingredient, you can't successfully make this project.'"
Around about 50 miles along I-75, you'll find Cartersville. On a recent weekend, the town center was bustling with locals browsing local vendors' stalls, offering homegrown produce and goods.
For two consecutive years, this has been recognized as the best farmer's market in Georgia, which might surprise given that the county voted for Trump by a 75% majority in 2020's election.
However, this market plays a crucial role in attracting businesses like Qcells, who decided to build their next plant nearby. The mayor, Matt Santini, was even interviewed by CNN in this area.
Cartersville is undeniably a Republican town, strongly backing the former president. Yet, Santini believes the real essence of the place is its unity.
"It's doubled in size since I moved here in the '90s, but it's still a place where you can stroll through a farmer's market, witnessing people interact and get along with each other," Santini shared.
Back in Dalton, that sense of community is apparent upon entering the Oakwood Cafe. This is Carpenter's day job as a state legislator and serves to maintain his connection with his constituents when the Legislature is in session in Atlanta.
"I'm very connected," Carpenter smiles. "On Mondays I fry their chicken and on Saturdays I clean their dishes."
Carpenter speaks of his community and its residents with affection.
"It's blue-collar, man. We're all workers," he said.
However, he acknowledges an ideological twist in the economic developments in the region over the past few years.
"We're cultivating the green energy that they don't really care that much about," he admitted. "But they're starting to see the impact on the economy."
The impact has been substantial, according to Carpenter.
"Whether it's janitorial services, restaurants, catering, plastics, garbage bags, shipping goods, or other industries, it all stems from initiatives like this," he explained.
Unaddressed threats
The most tangible manifestation of this impact can be seen in the newly built boutique hotel in downtown Dalton, just steps away from the Oakwood Cafe. The hotel marks the city's revival after half a century without one.
Despite Trump's election promises to roll back climate regulations, which fueled the town's growth, his campaign rhetoric hasn't swayed voters in Dalton.
"I don't think they realize that if everything is repealed, it would affect the 2,500 jobs in the south end of the county. It's real, and it has consequences," Carpenter cautioned.
Qcells officials argue that their investment in Dalton started in 2018 due to Trump's tariffs on solar panels, incentivizing local production.
Still, Trump's threats loom large, even if bipartisan backing gives the project a level of safeguard if he wins in the next election.
"Would you ask me that after November?" Nash, the Qcells plant manager, posed, when asked about the future of the industry.
But she highlighted the magnitude of the changes underway and their implications for the future.
"No, I'm optimistic because we're still barely scratching the surface," she said.
This optimism for the future resonates strongly with Nash.
"Both of my parents told me, 'Don't go into manufacturing.' I'd like to think they're both proud of me today because of this. I envision my kids and grandkids choosing this path," she shared.
This shift is evident in the entire community, transforming a one-industry town into something more diverse.
When asked if there were any plans to add "Solar capital of the world" on the Dalton town signs, Carpenter mused for a moment.
"No, but we should," he concluded. "We have to wait and see where the story takes us. For now, the story remains."
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, provided a significant boost for the Qcells factory's growth by offering necessary investments. (follows from the text)
Political debates surrounding inflation and economic growth are central concerns for many voters in the local community. (follows from the text)
