Swift Current Energy has secured a tax equity investment from Google for its 800 MWdc (593 MWac) Double Black Diamond Solar project in southern Illinois, marking it as the largest solar initiative east of the Mississippi River. Google’s investment taps into the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, including energy community and domestic content incentives.
The project, located 30 miles west of Springfield, Illinois, is under construction and expected to begin operations by early 2025. Swift Current Energy, which is also the long-term owner and operator, previously secured construction financing from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Societe Generale, Truist, and ING. At its peak, the project will employ 500 workers and use US-manufactured First Solar modules and Nextracker solar trackers.
Double Black Diamond Solar is expected to power 100,000 homes annually and cut carbon emissions by approximately one million tonnes per year. Constellation NewEnergy has agreed to purchase a portion of the generated energy and renewable energy certificates.