Overview
- Google and developer Cypress Creek Energy broke ground on the Steel River Energy Center on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, with Google named as anchor investor and offtaker for the initial output.
- The first two phases will add about 1.6 GWdc of solar and roughly 1.9–2.0 GWh of battery storage now under construction and the full three‑phase site is planned to reach 2.5 GWdc and 2.9 GWh when finished in 2029.
- Google has signed a virtual power purchase agreement to take 100% of the project’s initial generation, though the fixed price and detailed financing terms have not been disclosed.
- Major components are being sourced in the United States, including First Solar modules, Arkansas‑made structural steel and LG batteries built in Phoenix, and the project is expected to create about 700 construction jobs and roughly $300 million in lifetime tax revenue plus a $5 million Google commitment for local energy affordability programs.
- The deal secures large, dispatchable renewable capacity to meet rising data‑center demand and could strengthen domestic clean‑energy manufacturing by aligning the project with federal sourcing incentives and big‑tech offtake patterns.