2025 Editors Choice

While Solar Builder readers voted on our five stellar awardees, we the editors wanted to highlight a few more excellent solar projects that were nominated this year. Active Church Yucaipa, California | 112 kW Project Details Developer/EPC: Watthub Renewables Installer: JDC Energy Modules: Boviet Solar Inverters: SolarEdge Mounting/Racking: Ironridge The Active Church solar project began…

Northern Cheyenne Buffalo Facility | Under 100 kW

Seeking a more sustainable way to power (and eventually expand) its operations, the Northern Cheyenne buffalo caretaking facility in Montana installed a 36 kW solar and 57.6 kW battery system that supplying much-needed energy reliability to the remote location. Developer: Indigenized Energy, Freedom Forever EPC/Installer: Freedom Forever Modules: Jinko Solar Inverters: Jinko Solar Storage: Jinko…

Gilman Brothers Rooftop Solar | 101 kW to 1 MW

Don’t tell Gilman Brothers Co. that an old dog can’t learn new tricks. The 128-year-old, Connecticut-based family-owned and operated manufacturer of foamboard products took an innovative approach to solving its energy needs by installing a 750 kW rooftop solar system to lower energy usage and costs. But it was how the company approached the project…

Willcox Greenhouse | 1 MW to 10 MW

Talk about renewable energy. The 4 MW Willcox Greenhouse solar project helped an agricultural company reopen a dormant growing facility and bring back hundreds of jobs to the southeastern Arizona community. Developer: EnPower Star EPC: Obodo Energy Partners Installer: Obodo, Icon Electric, Sunstall, and Rubicon Modules: Canadian Solar Inverters: CPS | Mounting/Racking: OMCO Solar Developed…

Double Black Diamond Solar | Over 10 MW

On the ski slopes, double black diamonds are for experts only. For a large utility-scale solar project in Illinois, it certainly took a high level of expertise to deliver a 593 MWac / 800 MWdc facility that will power 70% of Chicago’s city-run facilities, including major travel hubs like O’Hare and Midway airports. Other organizations…

Orcas Center | Microgrid

If the play’s the thing, then the Orcas Center is where you’ll catch the conscience of Orcas Island in Eastsound, Washington. More than a performing arts center, this community hub has served as an emergency hub during power outages and a resource center during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Orcas Center provides essential cultural and community…