Corinne Grinapol

Solar power continues to be the fastest-growing source of new U.S. generation at utility scale, set to rise to 424 billion kilowatt hours by 2027 from 290 billion kWh in 2025, says the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Almost 70 GW of new solar projects are set to come online in 2026 and 2027, 49% above U.S. operating capacity in 2025. If these happen as planned, 2026 will mark the third consecutive year of record solar installations.

Related Link: ENR 2026 Top 500 Sourcebook (PDF) (Subscription Required) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected a Black & Veatch-Stantec joint venture for design, engineering and analytical services for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. Under an $85-million single-award task-order contract covering an eight-year ordering period, the firms will work on modifications to the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Ill., intended to stop invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

Illinois still has opportunities to lead in technological innovation and economic growth, says Pritzker, but it also has a responsibility to protect working families and local communities as the data center industry rapidly expands.