US-based company Swift Current Energy has announced the commercial operation of the Double Black Diamond solar park, located approximately 50 kilometres west of Springfield, Illinois. With a capacity of 800 MWdc (593 MWac), it is now the largest operating solar park east of the Mississippi River, according to a statement released on April 30.
A project backed by institutional customers
Double Black Diamond will supply part of its output to the City of Chicago, which covers around 70% of the energy consumption for its public facilities — including O’Hare and Midway airports — through Constellation NewEnergy, Inc. Other entities, such as CVS Health, Loyola University Chicago, PPG, State Farm, and TransUnion, are also project customers.
The project is owned and developed by Swift Current Energy, with backing from Australian investment fund IFM Investors. Financing and construction began following initial greenfield development launched in 2018. The facility now provides power equivalent to that consumed by 100,000 households annually.
Domestic manufacturing and local supply chain
A significant portion of the facility’s components were sourced from the US solar manufacturing sector. Approximately 1.6 million solar panels were provided by First Solar, which operates manufacturing plants in Ohio, while the racking system was supplied by Nextracker. Some key components were produced locally in Chicago using 100% US-made steel.
The plant was built by St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., and employed nearly 500 workers at peak construction. The project logged over one million safe work hours and complied with the Illinois Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which includes inclusive hiring standards for renewable energy projects.
Local tax benefits over several decades
The project is expected to generate around $100mn (€93mn) in tax revenues for Sangamon and Morgan counties over its operational lifetime. According to Andy Van Meter, Chair of the Sangamon County Board, more than 60% of those funds will support public school financing. The remainder will strengthen local services, including public safety and infrastructure.
In addition, Swift Current Energy has committed $10mn in direct community benefit contributions to local recipients, including the Sangamon Growth Alliance, Auburn School District, City of Chicago, and Cook County.
