Another project by Leeward.
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has announced over 700 MWAC of renewable energy projects in Oklahoma that are supported in part by long-term power PPAs with Google.
These projects are strategically sited to support Google’s data center operations and leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). They will bolster the reliability of Oklahoma’s electric grid by adding renewable capacity that improves stability and diversifies the energy mix, while also supporting national energy independence.
Construction has begun on the 372-MWAC Mayes County Solar Portfolio, located just within one mile from Google’s data center in Pryor, Oklahoma. Together with the Twelvemile Solar Project 1 & 2 (152.5 MWAC) and the Twelvemile 3 Solar Project (200 MWAC), located in Southern Oklahoma, these projects total 724 MWAC of solar capacity in Oklahoma.
LRE purchased the Mayes County Solar Portfolio earlier this year from Red River Renewable Energy, a joint venture between SunChase Power and Eolian, L.P. The energy generated by the solar portfolio is delivered under firm transmission service to the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). GRDA plans to utilize the clean energy produced by the projects to support operations at Google’s data center.
The Mayes County Solar Portfolio consists of three solar projects: Salt Branch Solar (145 MWAC), Huckleberry Solar (125 MWAC), and Mayes Solar (102 MWAC). The projects will generate substantial economic investment in the community, creating over 300 construction jobs and contributing an estimated $76 million in tax revenue to Mayes County over their lifespan. This funding will support vital county initiatives and schools. Additionally, over $60,000 has been donated to the local Red Cross, the Chamber of Commerce, and other essential services, further strengthening community resources.
The power purchase agreements were facilitated through LEAP (LevelTen Energy’s Accelerated Process), which was co-developed by Google and LevelTen Energy to make sourcing and executing clean energy PPAs more efficient, and contribute to Google’s ambitious 2030 goal to run on 24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) on every grid where it operates.
“We began development of these energy projects in 2017, intentionally co-locating solar sites adjacent to Google’s data center load at Pryor to directly inject clean electricity into the grid at the point of consumption,” added Aaron Zubaty, CEO of Eolian. “The addition of more than 700 MWAC of new solar resources at carefully chosen locations will enable more efficient utilization of the regional transmission network and enhance grid resilience while also directly enabling customer expansion. In a time of growing electricity demand to power our overall economy, these solar projects provide a very tangible and real solution.”
News item from Leeward Renewable Energy
