Wisconsin to host 1 GW data center | Projects Weekly
In today’s edition of Projects Weekly, we’re starting off with a massive data center project, as OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers have teamed up to build a new campus in Wisconsin. Plus, Enurgen has secured $4.1 million in new financing to support the global growth of its energy yield performance modelling software. Standard Solar has completed a 2.38 MW ground-mount 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 at its 177 MW Ridgely Solar project in Lake County, Tennessee. Keep reading for more details.
Lighthouse data center in Wisconsin to fuel 4.5 GW expansion of Stargate
OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers are planning to develop a data center campus outside Milwaukee in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The new campus is part of OpenAI and Oracle’s partnership to invest up to 4.5 GW of additional Stargate capacity and will be the Midwest site that was recently announced as part of OpenAI’s five-site Stargate expansion.
“Expanding Stargate to Wisconsin is another major step toward building the infrastructure that will help ensure everyone can benefit from AI,” said Peter Hoeschele, OpenAI’s VP of industrial compute. “This project will create good jobs, advance zero-emission energy and boost the local economy, all while expanding capacity without raising rates for local consumers.”
Cool factor: The campus, named Lighthouse, will feature four cutting-edge data centers, providing close to 1 GW of AI capacity. Construction will begin soon and is scheduled for completion in 2028. The project expects to create more than 4,000 skilled construction jobs, most of which will be union jobs. Once complete, Vantage and Oracle will create more than 1,000 long-term jobs and thousands more indirect jobs. The campus is designed to preserve local resources, support new clean energy resources and advance environmental stewardship, including 100% matched zero-emission energy, a closed-loop liquid cooling system that minimizes the impact on local water resources, a net gain in biodiversity by planting more than 2,000 native trees and other native landscaping while protecting and enhancing existing wetlands and LEED Certification to ensure sustainable building 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 area’s strong foundation for digital growth to support sustainable AI innovation at scale.”
Enurgen closes $4.1 million financing to grow solar performance software
Ottawa-based Enurgen, a provider of energy yield performance modeling, 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 funding marks a major milestone for Enurgen,” said Kibby Pollak, CEO and cofounder of Enurgen. “In an era dominated by AI and LLMs, it’s crucial to recognize that critical systems like energy infrastructure continue to rely on physics-based models for accurate and deterministic outputs.”
Cool factor: Enurgen specializes in energy yield performance modeling for utility-scale solar assets across their entire lifecycle, from design to operations. The investment will accelerate the global expansion of the company’s flagship software platform, which leverages advanced, physics-based models across the lifecycle of solar assets to deliver breakthrough rates of returns. The software delivers high-resolution, 3D solar irradiance modeling, enabling incident light calculations to scale from an individual solar cell to gigawatt-scale ($1B+) power plants.
“Solar PV is becoming the dominant (renewable) energy source, with panel costs plummeting faster than almost 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 modelling infrastructure the industry desperately needs.”
Standard Solar completes 2.4 MW solar + storage project in Massachusetts
Standard Solar has completed a new community solar project in Westport, Massachusetts. The Division Road project, a 2.38 megawatt (MW) ground-mount solar array paired with 999 kilowatt (kW) of DC-coupled battery storage, is now delivering clean, reliable power to the New England grid. The project was acquired from New Leaf Energy and built in partnership 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 teeming with real estate and technical challenges. Working with an experienced and knowledgeable partner like Standard Solar allowed us to work through those obstacles while transitioning the project to Standard Solar to manage the construction level engineering and build out.”
Cool factor: Located on seven acres in Bristol County, the array 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 highest. 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 grid,” said Harry Benson, director of business development, Standard Solar. “With nearly 1 MW of storage, the project adds reliability and ensures greater value for communities and the New England grid. Thanks to Massachusetts’ forward-looking SMART program and strong collaboration with partners, we’re able to advance projects that cut carbon emissions, support the local economy and make renewable energy more accessible across the Commonwealth.”
LRE begins operations at 177 MW solar facility in Tennessee
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has completed construction and started commercial operations at its 177 MW Ridgely Solar project in Lake County, Tennessee, located approximately 100 miles north of Memphis. The project marks LRE’s first operating asset in the state and supplies power to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) under a long-term agreement.
“Ridgely Solar is a significant milestone as LRE’s first project in Tennessee,” said Eran Mahrer, chief commercial officer at LRE. “The project delivers reliable energy, drives investment in Lake County, and demonstrates our role as a community partner by supporting local priorities. Further, by building on our long-standing relationships with U.S. technology leaders, prioritizing domestic jobs and manufacturing, and integrating innovative solutions that reduce impacts and speed deployment, Ridgely shows how forward-looking projects can strengthen the communities where we operate and contribute to our nation’s long-term energy security.”
Cool factor: The Ridgely Solar project generates substantial economic investment, including approximately $3 million in property tax revenues over its lifetime. The project created approximately 700 jobs during construction, and the revenue generated for the county will go toward supporting schools and public services, altogether strengthening the community.
Beyond delivering 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 relief efforts. Ridgely Solar has also contributed to public safety infrastructure for first responders and provided resources for The Nest, a daycare at Margaret Newton Elementary that offers free childcare to local families.
