Supporting Solar Delivery: CMC’s Role on American Beech

American Beech is a significant solar project built in Halifax County, North Carolina. Completed in 13-months American Beech now produces 196 MWdc and 140 MWac. The project's success is another example of how real expertise delivers results and testament to why so many projects partner with CMC to provide critical workforce and project solutions.  

For us, the story is about delivering the right expertise at the right time: deploying a specialist (Gary Newton) who oversaw the construction phase on the owner’s behalf.  

American Beech brought together a substantial technical installation and a demanding delivery programme. Construction began following notice to proceed in October 2024, and the project reached commercial operation 13 months later. MN8 reports that mechanical completion was achieved less than eight months after notice to proceed. 

CMC’s involvement centred on the owner’s representative construction management role. By providing that specialist throughout construction, we supported the project at the point where development plans became a physical asset. American Beech’s timely completion reflects the work of MN8, the wider project team and CMC.  

"As a leading consultancy in the construction management space for renewable energy we pride ourselves in having the best experts on demand when any of our clients reach out.  When speaking to MN8 and gaining an understanding of the project, it's location and the potential challenges there was 1 person I had in mind, I reached out to Gary Newton who I had built a relationship with over the last 4 years and explained the project to him, he was excited to by the challenge and keen to move forward so we began the process where I took multiple testimonials from previous projects before presenting him to MN8 and the rest is history..." - Ed Maunder, CMC Management Consultant 

Expertise Within a Large-scale Installation 

American Beech now supplies solar generation to PJM’s Mid-Atlantic network. A 15-year virtual power purchase agreement with Microsoft anchors the project’s commercial arrangements, connecting its construction milestone to a long-term energy commitment. 

For CMC, the project demonstrates our involvement in utility-scale solar through a clearly defined specialist assignment. We are proud to have supported MN8’s wider delivery effort by placing the owner’s representative construction manager for American Beech’s construction phase. 

Planning your next construction phase? 

If your next energy project needs expert construction management support, or specialist support in other areas of the project speak to CMC about the expertise required, the scope of the assignment and the stages where additional support would be most valuable. 

Read more from MN8: MN8 Energy’s American Beech case study.