Dive Brief:
- Google has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with German energy company RWE to source the total output produced at a 155-megawatt solar project based in Oklahoma, the two companies announced last week.
- Electricity delivered by the Crooked Creek Solar project in McCurtain County will help power Google’s operations in the Southwest Power Pool market, which manages the flow of electricity across 14 central and western U.S. states — and provide locally sourced electricity for Oklahoma residents.
- On-site construction for the solar project is expected to begin later this year, with commercial operations slated to start in 2028, according to an Aug. 3 release.
Dive Insight:
RWE said the new solar project is expected to generate around $24.3 million in revenue for McCurtain County during the construction process, and another $1.4 million in state and local tax revenue, while employing up to 250 workers at peak construction.
Once operational, the Crooked Creek Solar project will continue driving revenue for the local community, with RWE estimating the project to bring in $25 million. This revenue, according to the company, will help support schools, emergency medical services and technology education centers in the district.
“Supporting a strong, stable, affordable grid is a top priority as we expand our infrastructure,” Will Conkling, Google’s director of energy and power, said in the release. “Our agreement with RWE adds critical new generation to the local system, boosting the amount of affordable and reliable power supply for Oklahoma and the region.”
Google’s solar PPA with RWE comes shortly after the tech giant announced it had signed a deal with Cypress Creek Energy to invest in and receive energy from what is expected to be the largest solar facility in the U.S. Per the agreement, Google will also receive energy from the first two phases of the Arkansas-based solar and storage project’s growth.
