October 27, 2025
In today’s edition of Projects weeklywe’re embarking on a massive data center project as OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers team up to build a new campus in Wisconsin. Additionally, Enurgen has secured $4.1 million in new funding to support the global growth of its energy yield performance modeling software. Standard Solar has completed a 2.38 MW ground-mounted solar array, paired with 999 kWdc battery storage, for a new community solar project in Westport, Massachusetts. Leeward Renewable Energy completed construction and has begun commercial operations on the 177 MW Ridgely Solar project in Lake County, Tennessee. Keep reading for more details.
Lighthouse data center in Wisconsin will fuel Stargate’s 4.5 GW expansion
OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers plan to develop a data center campus outside Milwaukee in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The new campus is part of the partnership between OpenAI and Oracle to invest in 4.5 GW of additional Stargate capacity and will be the Midwest site recently announced as part of OpenAI’s five-location Stargate expansion.
“Expanding Stargate to Wisconsin is another important step toward building the infrastructure that will ensure everyone can benefit from AI,” said Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI’s VP of Industrial Compute. “This project will create good jobs, promote zero-emission energy and stimulate the local economy, while expanding capacity without increasing rates for local consumers.”
Cool factor: The campus, called Lighthouse, will have four advanced data centers, offering almost 1 GW of AI capacity. Construction will begin soon and is expected to be completed in 2028. The project expects to create more than 4,000 skilled builder jobs, most of which will be union jobs. Once completed, Vantage and Oracle will create more than 1,000 long-term jobs and thousands of indirect jobs. The campus is designed to conserve local resources, support new clean energy sources and promote environmental stewardship, including 100% matched zero-emission energy, a closed-loop liquid cooling system that minimizes impact on local water resources, a net gain in biodiversity through the planting of more than 2,000 native trees and other native landscaping, while protecting and preserving existing wetlands improved, and LEED certification to ensure sustainable construction practices.
“As demand for data centers expands beyond traditional hubs, the upper Midwest has become a critical and strategic market for Vantage Data Centers and our customers,” said Dana Adams, president of North America, Vantage Data Centers. “Our investment in Wisconsin reflects the region’s strong foundation for digital growth to support sustainable AI innovation at scale.”
Enurgen closes $4.1 million in financing to grow solar energy software
Based in Ottawa Enurgenan energy yield performance modeling provider, has secured $4.1 million USD in new financing. The round was co-led by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Brightspark and Diagram, with participation from MaRS IAF.
“This financing marks an important milestone for Enurgen,” said Kibby Pollak, CEO and co-founder of Enurgen. “In an era dominated by AI and LLMs, it is critical to recognize that critical systems such as energy infrastructure continue to rely on physics-based models for accurate and deterministic results.”
Cool factor: Enurgen specializes in modeling energy harvest performance for utility-scale solar energy throughout their lifecycle, from design to operation. The investment will accelerate the global expansion of the company’s flagship software platform, which uses advanced physics-based models across the entire solar lifecycle to deliver breakthrough returns. The software delivers high-resolution 3D solar radiation modeling, allowing incident light calculations to scale from an individual solar cell to gigawatt-scale ($1 billion+) power plants.
“Solar PV is becoming the dominant (renewable) energy source, with panel costs falling faster than virtually any technology in history, yet the software ecosystem remains stuck in the past,” said Éléonore Jarry, partner at Brightspark Ventures. “Enurgen’s unique blend of deep academic R&D and strong commercial execution positions them perfectly to deliver the advanced 3D modeling infrastructure the industry desperately needs.”
Standard Solar completes a 2.4 MW solar and storage project in Massachusetts
Standard solar energy has completed a new community solar project in Westport, Massachusetts. The Division Road project, a 2.38 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted solar array combined with 999 kilowatts (kW) of DC-coupled battery storage, is now delivering clean, reliable power to the New England electric grid. The project was taken over from New Leaf Energy and built in collaboration with EDF power solutions.
“The Division Road project is a great testament to the strong partnership between New Leaf Energy and Standard Solar,” said Jon Sarno, senior director of project finance for New Leaf Energy. “The project had a long, winding development path filled with real estate and technical challenges. Working with an experienced and knowledgeable partner like Standard Solar allowed us to overcome these obstacles as we transitioned the project to Standard Solar to manage the engineering and build-out at the construction level.”
Cool factor: The array, located on seven acres in Bristol County, includes 4,420 modules and is expected to produce approximately 2,500 MWh annually. With nearly 1 MW of storage integrated into the design, the project adds flexibility and resilience to the regional grid, ensuring clean energy is available when demand is greatest. The project also contributes to the state’s Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program, which aims to deploy 3,200 MW of solar energy statewide by the end of 2025.
“Projects like this demonstrate the power of solar plus storage to deliver clean energy while strengthening the electric grid,” said Harry Benson, director of business development at Standard Solar. “With nearly 1 MW of storage, the project will add reliability and deliver greater value to communities and the grid in New England. Thanks to Massachusetts’ forward-looking SMART program and strong collaboration with partners, we can advance projects that reduce carbon emissions, support the local economy and make renewable energy more accessible across the Commonwealth.”
LRE begins operations at a 177 MW solar facility in Tennessee
Downwind renewable energy (LRE) has completed construction and commenced commercial operations of the 177 MW Ridgely Solar project in Lake County, Tennessee, approximately 100 miles north of Memphis. The project marks LRE’s first asset in the state, providing power to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) under a long-term agreement.
“Ridgely Solar marks a significant milestone as LRE’s first project in Tennessee,” said Eran Mahrer, Chief Commercial Officer at LRE. “The project will deliver reliable energy, drive investment in Lake County, and demonstrate our role as a community partner by supporting local priorities. By building on our long-standing relationships with America’s technology leaders, prioritizing domestic jobs and manufacturing, and integrating innovative solutions that reduce impact and accelerate deployment, Ridgely is demonstrating how forward-looking projects can benefit the communities where we are active can strengthen and contribute to our country’s long-term energy security.”
Cool factor: The Ridgely Solar project generates significant economic investment, including approximately $3 million in property tax revenue over its lifespan. The project created approximately 700 jobs during construction, and the revenue generated for the province will go towards supporting schools and public services, strengthening the community as a whole.
In addition to providing reliable and cost-effective energy, Ridgely Solar has become a partner in the Lake County community, supporting initiatives that strengthen education, safety and family well-being. The project has funded scholarships through the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Northwest, helped build an inclusive playground for children with disabilities, and supported the American Red Cross Mid-South’s local flood response efforts. Ridgely Solar has also contributed to public safety infrastructure for first responders and provided resources for The Nest, a daycare center at Margaret Newton Elementary that provides free child care to local families.
Tags: commercial and industrial, Community Solar, data centers, financing, Projects Weekly, utility scale
