McCarthy Building Companies Completes Landmark 800 MW Solar Facility in Illinois for Swift Current Energy

McCarthy Building Companies recently completed the landmark 800 MWdc (593 MWac) Double Black Diamond Solar project for Swift Current Energy. The new solar facility, located 30 miles west of Springfield, Ill., is the largest operating solar facility east of the Mississippi and provides a major source of new energy capacity in the state.

During construction, Double Black Diamond Solar created approximately 500 jobs and reached commercial operation with more than 1 million hours of construction work safely completed by the project team. The project also successfully met the Illinois Clean and Equitable Jobs Act’s (CEJA) labor and hiring standards for renewable energy development, helping bring employment opportunities to a wider range of Illinoisians. McCarthy served as the designer and Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) provider for the project.

McCarthy started construction of Double Black Diamond Solar in late 2022. The facility began producing power in 2024 and today produces enough power for the equivalent of 100,000 homes annually. 

“We are grateful to have played a role in building the Midwest’s largest solar project,” said Jeffery Boyer, vice president of operations for McCarthy’s Renewable Energy & Storage team. “Thanks to the great partners on this project, we were able to support the area’s economy by hiring and training local trades in the growing solar construction sector, helping prepare them for long-term careers in the industry. Most of the project’s components were sourced from U.S. manufacturers, making this a great example of an American-made energy project.”

Swift Current utilized the robust domestic solar manufacturing supply chain to source most of the components for Double Black Diamond Solar, adding to the national and regional benefits of the project. A majority of the project’s 1.6 million solar modules were manufactured by First Solar in Ohio, and the racking was supplied by U.S.-based Nextracker, with a portion of key components manufactured locally in Chicago using 100% U.S.-made steel. 

“Electricity demand in the U.S. is accelerating with new manufacturing load and tech needs. Our Double Black Diamond Solar facility is an example of how we are utilizing U.S. manufacturers and American workers to provide the energy needed to charge our country’s growth now,” said Eric Lammers, CEO and co-founder of Swift Current. “We thank our customers in collaboration with Constellation for their commitment to this project. We especially thank Sangamon and Morgan Counties for welcoming us into their communities during development and construction. We will continue to honor our commitments as we operate Double Black Diamond.”

The City of Chicago is one of the largest cities in the U.S. to source 100% of the power for its operations from renewable energy. About 70% of Chicago’s power that is used for its facilities – including O’Hare and Midway airports – is sourced from Swift Current’s Double Black Diamond Solar project. Additionally, Cook County, CVS Health, Loyola University Chicago, PPG, State Farm and TransUnion are sourcing power from the project via Constellation NewEnergy Inc.

“Double Black Diamond Solar demonstrates what’s possible when we bring customers and clean energy solutions together. We were proud to work closely with the City of Chicago and other customers to help bring this new capacity to life,” said Constellation Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Kathleen Barrón. “Efforts like this aren’t just about reducing emissions – they also drive local investment, support American manufacturing, and help communities realize the full value of clean energy while advancing their sustainability goals.”

The Double Black Diamond solar project is expected to generate $100M in local tax revenue over its lifetime, with more than 60% of those funds being directed to public schools in the area and the remaining funds supporting essential services that include public safety, infrastructure and community programs across Sangamon County. Additionally, Swift Current will provide $10 million in community benefits funds to the Sangamon Growth Alliance, Auburn School District, City of Chicago and Cook County. Swift Current is the long-term owner and operator of the project and has previously announced that tax equity for the project was provided by Google, and construction financing for the project was provided by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Societe Generale, Truist, and eight other leading lenders.

McCarthy’s Renewable Energy & Storage group has built or is currently constructing approximately 115 utility-scale solar energy projects, delivering a combined capacity of nearly 17 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy production and over 9 GW of energy storage since 2010. Nationally, McCarthy provides EPC services on utility-scale solar projects for private solar developers and utilities, helping them deliver cost-effective clean energy to the communities they serve.   

About McCarthy Building Companies

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with over 160 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 19th largest domestic builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2024). With approximately 8,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix and Chandler, Ariz; Las Vegas; Denver; Austin, Channelview, Dallas, and Houston, Texas; and San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100% employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Swift Current Energy

Swift Current Energy is trailblazing a path for clean energy now. Founded in 2016, the company develops, owns and operates highly competitive, utility-scale wind, solar and energy storage projects across the United States. Swift Current Energy is majority-owned by funds managed by IFM Investors and Lookout Ridge Energy Partners. For more information, please visit swiftcurrentenergy.com.