Auburn, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A new solar farm near Virden will generate electricity for seven big clients, headlined by the city of Chicago and Cook County.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday – moved indoors twelve miles away because of weather – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said, “Climate action and job creation work in tandem. Adopting clean energy means training more people to become experts on building and maintaining the technology that powers it. We can reduce emissions and make a cleaner environment for everyone while creating jobs with a livable wage; a win-win for the people of the city of Chicago and, really, around this country.”

Boston-based Swift Current Energy will own and operate the Double Black Diamond farm. Sangamon County board chairman Andy Van Meter said Swift Current “made good on every promise they made to us, and the project that they’ve developed is going to pay significant dividends to this community. It’s going to add $1 million to the tax base.”

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