This week on Projects Weekly, Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure has brought a trio of new community solar projects online, stretching across New York and Oregon. In Colorado, Madison Energy Infrastructure and the CORE Electric Cooperative have launched a 50 MW partnership revolving around battery energy storage. In the Midwest, dGEN Energy Partners is earning recognition for its project on the rooftop of an Iowa school district, and Arevon has closed on a tax equity commitment for its Big Muddy Solar Project in Illinois. Also in the Land of Lincoln, Standard Solar has purchased a 43.3 MW community solar portfolio from Trajectory Energy Partners. Moving northeast to Michigan, DTE Energy has brought its newest solar park online. Finally, Distributed Energy Infrastructure has tackled some tough project construction in upstate New York. Keep reading for all the details!
Madison Energy Infrastructure, CORE Electric Cooperative launch 50 MW partnership
Madison Energy Infrastructure has announced a 50 MW / 200 MWh battery energy storage portfolio partnership with CORE Electric Cooperative, the companies say.
The projects, located across three sites in Colorado, represent Madison’s largest deployment to date in the distributed energy realm. The companies expect all three of the projects to come online by September 2027, using Tesla Megapack battery technology through Madison’s $50 million agreement with Tesla.
“Our partnership with CORE Electric Cooperative exemplifies our Community Infrastructure initiative and commitment to delivering value and benefits close to home,” says Madison Energy Infrastructure CEO Richard Walsh. “Leading municipal utilities and electric cooperatives play a vital role in meeting the moment of increasing demand while prioritizing local businesses and residents. We are proud to work alongside CORE as we deploy community-first energy infrastructure throughout the country.”
Bright spot: The portfolio will support CORE’s distribution infrastructure, adding enough capacity to help meet growing electrical demand. The distributed generation strategy gives CORE a flexible, cost-effective way to strengthen the local energy grid around its portfolio in Colorado.
“Moving these battery storage projects from planning into construction puts us closer to delivering real benefits for our members,” says Chris Hildred, chief energy supply officer at CORE Electric Cooperative. “As electricity demand grows, this storage will help us manage peak demand, control power costs, and maintain reliable service. We’re pleased to take this next step with Madison as we prepare for our communities’ future.”
dGEN Energy Partners earns award for Clear Lake School District solar site
The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) has recognized dGEN Energy Partners and its Clear Lake School District project for its 2026 Project of the Year Awards, the association announced Oct. 26.
Located in Clear Lake, Iowa, the winning project combines roof restoration and energy planning, dGEN officials say. The 107,000 square foot project, which dGEN developed in partnership with Sherwin-Williams Roofing Solutions, aims to serve as a proof of concept for similar projects at other public institutions.
“This project is a great example of what can happen when you look at a building’s infrastructure as a whole,” says Walt Jordan, chief revenue officer of dGEN Energy Partners. “The district had a roofing problem to solve, but by looking at the roof and energy needs together, we were able to help develop a solution with longer-term financial benefits. That’s the kind of thinking more facilities should be doing.”
dGEN completed most of the project’s work during the summer, hoping to provide minimal disruption to normal school operations. The project includes a reflective roofing system, designed to work together with the solar installation maximize efficiency and allow the district to address immediate building needs while still saving on energy bills.
Bright spot: The project and its subsequent award victory “highlights an increasingly important issue for public institutions and commercial property owners,” the company says. As utility bills continue to spike around the U.S., companies are evaluating major infrastructure investments alongside potential future energy requirements.
“This is about making better use of the buildings organizations already own,” Jordan adds. “Before spending millions on replacement or major upgrades, it’s worth asking whether there is a smarter way to address the building’s needs.”
Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure energizes 15.8 MW of community solar
Renewable energy developer Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure (KSI) has begun operations for three new community solar projects, spread across New York and Oregon.
Each constructed by different independent developers, the trio of projects combine to make up 15.8 MW of solar power, KSI officials say. The projects come at a time of spiking utility rates across the U.S., making new community energy projects a crucial part of the American electrical landscape.
“All three new projects came on-line quickly and provide critically needed power to the burgeoning demand on the electric grid,” says KSI co-founder John Chaimanis. “The solar power provides energy savings to the off-takers, has funded well-paying jobs, and will contribute meaningfully to the tax base of the local communities they serve.”
Bright spot: As of October 2026, KSI has completed construction on 83 solar projects, totaling 145 MWdc. Additionally, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based firm has 71 MWdc of renewable energy sites under active construction across a group of eight states.
“KSI values long-standing partnerships with experienced developers, EPC contractors, O&M providers and other solar professionals,” says KSI co-founder Ken Lehman. “These repeat partnerships help foster strong communication, consistent execution, and a shared understanding of project expectations, supporting a smoother path from construction through commercial operation.”
Arevon closes on tax equity commitment for Big Muddy Solar Project
American energy developer, owner, and operator Arevon has closed on a $120 million tax equity commitment with Wells Fargo Bank for its upcoming Big Muddy Solar Project, officials said Oct. 27.
The 124 MWdc project will eventually see completion in southern Illinois’ Jackson County, Arevon says. The transaction follows up on a $183 million total debt package Arevon announced in February 2026, with the two enabling the developer to monetize the project’s tax attributes including depreciation and investment tax credits.
“This latest tax equity commitment with Wells Fargo reflects the strength of our longstanding partnership and Arevon’s track record of executing complex transactions,” says Denise Tait, Arevon’s CIO and interim CFO. “Together, we remain focused on advancing American-made energy projects that create jobs, generate tax revenue for schools and local governments, and deliver long-term value for both our financial partners and host communities.”
Bright spot: Since beginning construction in 2025, more than 250 workers have helped construct the new facility for Arevon. Over its operating life, officials expect the project to deliver more than $12.6 million in property tax payments, funding schools, roads, and other area initiatives.
In total, Big Muddy will produce enough renewable energy to power more than 24,000 Illinoisan homes on an annual basis.
“As part of our expanding relationship with Arevon, we are pleased to announce our financing of the Big Muddy Solar Project,” says Andrew Kho, managing director of Wells Fargo Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance. “We are proud to support Arevon’s continued growth in the Midwest.”
Standard Solar acquires 43.3 MW portfolio from Trajectory Energy Partners
Standard Solar has announced its acquisition of a 13 project community solar portfolio from Chicago-based renewable energy developer Trajectory Energy Partners.
The 43.3 MW portfolio comes on the heels of Trajectory’s development of the projects, with Standard Solar agreeing to take the sites through construction, ownership, and operation. The purchase “builds on Standard Solar’s growing investment in Illinois,” the company says, as the Land of Lincoln becomes a community solar hotspot.
“Trajectory has done the hard work required to bring a portfolio of this scale forward across multiple Illinois communities,” says Harry Benson, Standard Solar’s director of business development. “These are exactly the kinds of strong, well-developed projects we want to add to our portfolio.
“By bringing Standard Solar’s capital, safe harbor panel inventory, execution capabilities and long-term ownership model to the partnership, we can take what Trajectory has built and move these projects toward operation and decades of energy production.”
Bright spot: The group of 13 project spans across communities in northern, central, and southern Illinois, Standard Solar says. The firm expects most to reach commercial operation beginning in 2027, with others aiming for a 2028 energization date.
“From the beginning, our approach has been to develop projects that work for the communities and landowners hosting them,” says Jon Carson, founder and managing partner of Trajectory. “The Tallgrass projects reflect that approach and the years of building strong local partnerships to successfully navigate the complexities of early-stage development.”
Distributed Energy Infrastructure constructs project on upstate New York bedrock
Distributed Energy Infrastructure (DEI) has mobilized on its Sapphire Solar project, having to adapt the project’s design mid-construction thanks to building on bedrock.
The 3.37 MWdc project presented “significant site challenges” for the team, including shallow bedrock and a high water table. The company says that during excavation, it encountered bedrock that was only 16 to 20 inches below grade across several areas of the site. This made the original underground DC conduit design “impractical,” the firm says.
“When we encounter unexpected challenges, our goal is to address them quickly and adapt our approach to what will work best for the site,” says Rusfid Haroon, senior project manager at Distributed Energy Infrastructure.
Bright spot: DEI’s engineering and contractor teams developed a revised design, converting a significant portion of the DC underground scope to an above ground CAB system. The full redesign and field implementation were completed within the original timeframe that was planned for the underground trenching.
“Even hitting shallow bedrock and water table across the site, we brought together the experience of each team working on the site to re-evaluate, re-design, and implement a solution that kept the project moving while ensuring long-term reliability,” Haroon adds.
DTE Energy completes new Fish Creek Solar Park in Michigan
DTE Energy has energized its 132 MW Fish Creek Solar Park near Sheridan, Michigan, the company announced Oct. 28.
The project aims to add a new source for Michigan-made renewable energy, as DTE works to deliver both reliable power and bill savings in the Mitten State. Totaling a $268 million development, the project received full funding from customers who participated in DTE’s MIGreenPower program, thereby adding new solar energy generation without raising customer costs.
“Our customers expect us to keep the lights on and keep bills as affordable as possible, and bringing new generation like Fish Creek online is part of how we deliver on that commitment,” says Matt Paul, president and COO of DTE Electric. “Fish Creek adds more Michigan-made energy to our system while supporting local jobs, generating new tax revenue and delivering lasting benefits for the communities that helped make this project possible.”
Bright spot: The new project can generate enough energy to power about 30,000 homes across central Michigan, DTE representatives say. Officials expect the project to generate “tens of millions of dollars” in tax revenue, supporting schools, first responders, roads, veterans, and senior citizen services, among other public works.
In addition to the new power generation, DTE and the Michigan Renewables Ready Communities Award have awarded the townships of Bushnell and Evergreen $330,000 each for hosting large-scale renewable energy projects. As of October 2026, DTE has 37 solar projects and 20 wind parks throughout Michigan, generating enough renewable energy to power nearly 1 million homes throughout the state.
— Solar Builder magazine
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