This Oklahoma solar initiative will power Google’s AI

A major solar farm initiative in Oklahoma, totaling 724 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity, will support Google’s data center operations and AI computing needs through long-term power purchase agreements.

Project Overview; The solar initiative comprises multiple strategically located facilities, with the largest being the 372-MW Mayes County Solar Portfolio positioned near Google’s Pryor data center.

• The Mayes County Portfolio includes three projects: 145 MW Salt Branch Solar, 125 MW Huckleberry Solar, and 102 MW Mayes Solar
• Additional capacity comes from the 152.5 MW Twelvemile Solar Project 1 & 2 and the 200 MW Twelvemile 3 Solar Project in southern Oklahoma
• Construction is already underway, with projects expected to come online by year’s end

Environmental and Economic Impact; The Mayes County Solar Portfolio alone will deliver significant environmental benefits and economic value to the local community.

• The portfolio will generate enough power to supply the equivalent of 865,000 homes annually
• The project will prevent over 3.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions during the power purchase agreement term
• Local economic benefits include over 300 construction jobs and $76 million in projected tax revenue for Mayes County
• More than $60,000 has already been distributed to local organizations including the Red Cross and Chamber of Commerce

Technical Implementation; The power distribution structure involves multiple stakeholders working together to deliver clean energy to Google’s facilities.

• Leeward Renewable Energy acquired the Mayes County Solar Portfolio from Red River Renewable Energy
• Power generated will be delivered through Oklahoma’s largest utility, Grand River Dam Authority
• The arrangement supports Google’s goal of powering all facilities with carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030

Market Context; The project reflects broader trends in data center power consumption and renewable energy adoption.

• Data center construction in North America’s top markets increased by approximately 70% year-over-year
• Power requirements for these facilities reached a record 3.9 gigawatts under construction in 2024
• Google is implementing a scalable procurement approach to accelerate carbon-free energy development

Future Implications; As data centers continue to expand to support AI and cloud computing, this project represents a model for how large tech companies can partner with utilities and renewable energy developers to meet growing power demands while advancing sustainability goals. The success of this initiative could influence similar projects across other regions with significant data center presence.