Top 5 Renewable Energy Projects in The U.S.

The United States has a very positive outlook for upcoming renewable energy projects in 2025 and onwards. As the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the U.S. is under increasing pressure to decarbonize. With federal and state-level commitments to net-zero emissions, investments in utility-scale renewable projects are expanding quickly, each designed to increase generation capacity, modernize the grid, create jobs, and reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. These projects showcase advancements in offshore wind, green hydrogen, solar, and energy storage, all of which are critical in the US’s renewable infrastructure. 

Here's a look at five of the most ambitious renewable energy projects currently underway in the U.S.

Valmy Grassroot 500MW Desert Marble PV Solar + 500MW Battery Energy Storage (BESS)

• Location: Humboldt County, Nevada
• Project Value: $1.2 billion
• Start: April 2025 | Completion: Nov 2026
• Companies: Desert Marble Solar, Primergy Solar | Parent: Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners

This huge solar project, developed by Desert Marble Solar LLC and its affiliates, is set to become a landmark in Nevada’s renewable energy sector. Located approximately 30 miles from the Valmy Substation in Humboldt County, this $1.2 billion project will deploy 1,250,000 First Solar Photovoltaic (PV) modules across nearly 7,000 acres of land. This hybrid plant will feature a 500 MW solar PV generation plant, a 500 MW/2,000 MWh iron lithium battery storage system (BESS), and a 345 kV generation-tie line, ensuring grid stability and maximizing renewable output. 

Utilizing an immense number of solar panels, this site will supply utility-scale renewable power, positioning the project as a crucial asset under the Utility Environmental Protection Act. The project will be a key contributor to the state’s- and the nation’s- long-term clean energy supply.

Arlington Grassroot 388MW High Noon Solar + 165MW BESS

• Location: Columbia County, Wisconsin
• Project Value: $930 million
• Start: June 2025 | Completion: Dec 2026
• Companies: High Noon Solar LLC | Parent: Invenergy

The High Noon Solar Energy Center, backed by Invenergy, is one of the Midwest’s most critical energy ventures. With a total investment of $930 million, the facility will deliver 388 MW of solar capacity and a 165 MW/660 MWh BESS, utilizing 705,000 high-efficiency solar panels, lithium-ion technology, central inverters, and a 1.9-mile 345 kV high-voltage gen-tie line.

Set across just over 4,000 acres in Columbia County, the project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 90,000 households in Leeds, Lowville, Arlington, and Hampden. Over its operational lifetime, it will inject roughly $239 million into the nearby communities, creating 600 construction jobs and five permanent operations and maintenance (O&M) roles once commercially viable. 

The site has already drawn public-private partnerships from regional utilities such as Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), WE Energies, and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), which have acquired significant shares of the facility’s output. These partnerships ensure that the benefits of renewable energy are widely distributed and help accelerate its adoption. 

Ocean Beach Grassroot 816 MW Empire Wind 1 Offshore Wind Project

• Location: Long Island, New York
• Project Value: $850 million
• Start: June 2025 | Completion: Dec 2026
• Companies: Empire Wind, BP Renewables, Aker Offshore Wind, Tetra Tech, Bond Brothers Civil & Utility | Parent: Equinor Renewables

Despite temporary halts in offshore activity , Empire Wind 1 remains a flagship project under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Located 15 miles south of Long Island, this offshore wind farm spans an 80,000-acre lease in the Atlantic. Originally developed as a joint venture between Equinor and BP Renewables, it will install 54 Vestas 15 MW wind turbines in its first phase (Empire Wind 1), producing 816 MW of clean power, with a second phase (Empire Wind 2) set to bring the total capacity to 2.1 GW with over 130 turbines. Aker Offshore Wind is responsible for the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED), Tetra Tech Incorporated is the permitting consultant, and Bond Brothers Civil & Utility is conducting site preparation.

Empire Wind will supply energy to more than one million households in New York City and will generate over 1,000 union positions throughout the construction process. Additionally, the Ecosystem Fund aims to expand the talent pipeline for careers related to offshore wind.

Equinor’s development – now 100% owned following a split from BP – includes a $155/MWh offtake contract with NYSERDA and a primary offshore staging site at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT). This terminal will serve as the primary location for operations and maintenance and will soon become the US's largest offshore wind port hub. 

The wind farm is positioned to generate its first power to the grid in 2026, helping New York to achieve its goal of 9 GW of offshore wind by 2035 and the broader U.S. vision of a clean energy economy. 

Kankakee Grassroot 600MW Heritage Prairie Wind Farm

• Location: Kankakee, Ford, and Livingston Counties, Illinois
• Project Value: $780 million (wind phase only)
• Start: April 2026 | Completion: June 2028
• Companies: Illinois Generation, ConnectGen, Repsol | Parent: Pattern Energy Group

Developed across three counties, the Heritage Prairie Wind Farm, a joint venture between Pattern Energy and ConnectGen with additional investment from Repsol Renewables, represents a major step forward for wind energy in the Midwest. Spanning Kankakee, Ford, and Livingston Counties in Illinois, this $780m project will deliver 600 MW of onshore wind power using 186 GE 3.2-103 turbines, 62 per county. Due to its closeness to ComEd transmission lines, this site is perfect for effective grid integration, optimizing land utilization and energy production.

Part of a broader $1.3b renewable strategy, including plans for a 300 MW solar farm, this project will supply clean energy to over 265,000 homes, bringing economic investment into the region, creating more than 150 construction jobs, and supporting local businesses. Upon completion, the project will create 12 to 16 permanent jobs for wind operations and 2 to 4 for solar facility management over the project's 30+ year lifespan.

Marshall Grassroot 360MW Sunfish Solar 2

• Location: Calhoun County, Michigan
• Project Value: $750 million
• Start: March 2026 | Completion: Dec 2027
• Companies: Betchel | Parent: Hecate Energy

Sunfish Solar 2, the first phase in a solar mega-project from Hecate Energy, with Betchel as the selected EPC contractor, will see the construction of a 360 MW ground-mounted solar facility through 620,000 bifacial PV panels on advanced single-axis tracking systems. The larger Sunfish Solar development is planned to reach 1 GW capacity, making it one of the region’s largest solar projects. 

Expected to power 183,500 homes and offset nearly 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually, Sunfish Solar is pivotal to Michigan’s goal of reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030. During peak construction, the project will bring hundreds of jobs, with Sunfish Solar 2 expected to create 350 alone. The initiative provides more than $50 million through direct and indirect employment, driving local workforce development, and greatly enhancing the local economy.

Collectively, these developments are helping the U.S. progress toward a carbon-free power sector and setting new benchmarks for project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and environmental stewardship. 

Find Skilled Renewable Talent with NES Fircroft

At NES Fircroft, we support the engineering talent and technical leadership behind transformative projects like these. We understand that the success of large-scale renewable projects hinges on access to highly skilled talent. Our expertise spans every facet of the renewables value chain, whether you need to find professionals for project development, engineering, construction, operations or maintenance roles. 

Our established presence in the U.S. market, combined with a global talent network and industry-leading compliance standards, means we can help you overcome workforce challenges, reduce costly delays, and achieve renewable energy goals. 

Are you putting together a workforce for a project similar to these? Contact our renewable energy recruiters today to improve your talent acquisition strategy.