Double Black Diamond Solar
Virden, Ill.
Merit Award
Presented by McCarthy Building Cos.
Owner: fast running
EPC Contractor: McCarthy Building Cos.
Civil/structural engineer: EVS
MEP Engineer: McCalmont Engineering
Completed in December 2024, this project became the largest operating solar facility in Illinois and east of the Mississippi River. The 593 megawatt AC / 800 megawatt DC solar facility is equipped with an on-site substation with three main power transformers, one of the largest ever completed by the contractor.
The project includes more than 1.6 million US-made First Solar panels, a 50/50 mix of Series 6+ and Series 7. Each is equipped with NEXTracker Horizon solar tracking technology, which rotates the panels to follow the sun’s movement across the sky, maximizing energy production.
The contractor’s safety culture allowed all team members to voice their concerns and supported them with the resources and training needed to work safely. Many new hires on the project were unfamiliar with renewable energy, so the contractor developed a comprehensive on-the-job orientation and training program to ensure all field employees were fully prepared before beginning hands-on work. Considering the risks of summer heat, project leadership implemented a heat illness prevention and acclimatization program. Before any physical work, employees were trained in both installation methods and working safely in extreme heat conditions.
