Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE), a prominent American renewable energy company, has announced a substantial investment in renewable energy in Oklahoma with over 700 megawatts of new solar energy projects. The development is backed by long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Google, marking an important step toward strengthening the state’s electric grid and contributing to national energy independence.
Project Overview
These large-scale solar projects are strategically sited to align with Google’s energy needs, specifically supporting its data center operations in the region, while also playing a key role in Google’s broader sustainability goals. LRE’s new projects will significantly enhance the stability of Oklahoma’s electric grid, offering renewable energy that not only benefits local communities but also diversifies the state’s energy mix. As part of the collaboration with Google, these solar developments are integral to Google’s ambitious goal to run its global operations on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030.
The solar energy projects are spread across multiple locations, with the largest being the 372-megawatt alternating current (MWac) Mayes County Solar Portfolio. This project is particularly notable as it is located within one mile of Google’s data center in Pryor, Oklahoma. In addition, LRE is also advancing the Twelvemile Solar Project, which consists of multiple phases totaling 352.5 MWac across several southern Oklahoma sites. Altogether, these efforts will result in a combined total of 724 MWac of solar energy capacity in Oklahoma.
The Mayes County Solar Portfolio was acquired by LRE earlier this year from Red River Renewable Energy, LLC, a joint venture between SunChase Power and Eolian, L.P. The portfolio consists of three separate projects: Salt Branch Solar (145 MWac), Huckleberry Solar (125 MWac), and Mayes Solar (102 MWac). These projects are designed to produce clean, renewable energy that will be transmitted under firm transmission service to the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), which will, in turn, supply power directly to Google’s data center.
Economic and Community Impact
The development of these projects is not only a significant contribution to renewable energy generation but also a vital economic booster for the local community. The Mayes County Solar Portfolio alone is expected to generate more than 300 construction jobs, with the total investment bringing an estimated $76 million in tax revenue to Mayes County over the life of the projects. This infusion of funds will help support local initiatives, including essential services, schools, and community development programs. LRE has also demonstrated its commitment to the local community by contributing over $60,000 to the Red Cross, the Chamber of Commerce, and other vital services that improve the quality of life for residents.
The collaboration between LRE, Google, and other partners highlights the positive economic effects that large-scale renewable energy projects can have on local communities. Beyond job creation, these projects provide a long-term economic stimulus through tax revenue, which helps to fund critical infrastructure and services in the area.
Strategic Partnerships and Energy Transition
LRE’s partnership with Google and the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) represents a strategic alignment of technology, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Google’s data centers are power-hungry operations, and the company is focused on finding scalable, sustainable solutions that ensure its global infrastructure is powered by carbon-free energy. The long-term PPAs that LRE has signed with Google are key to achieving this goal.
The energy generated by the Mayes County Solar Portfolio and the Twelvemile Solar Projects will be delivered to the electric grid, helping to meet growing demand for reliable, renewable electricity. These projects are designed not only to address the immediate needs of Google’s data center but also to provide broader grid resilience and support energy transition efforts across Oklahoma and the wider region.
The use of domestically manufactured equipment in these projects is another vital aspect of the collaboration, as it helps strengthen the domestic supply chain and reduces reliance on foreign materials. This focus on domestic production supports both local jobs and national energy independence, a key consideration as the U.S. continues to explore ways to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and increase the use of homegrown renewable resources.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Oklahoma with these projects, which are ideally located to support Google’s data center operations,” said Eran Mahrer, Chief Commercial Officer at LRE. “This partnership not only strengthens our collaboration with Google but also contributes to the reliability of Oklahoma’s electric grid and helps advance national energy independence. By utilizing domestically manufactured equipment and creating job opportunities for Oklahomans, these projects deliver tangible benefits to local communities navigating the energy transition.”
Environmental and Sustainability Benefits
Beyond the immediate economic benefits, these solar projects will have a significant positive impact on the environment. Together, the three solar projects in the Mayes County Solar Portfolio, as well as the Twelvemile Solar Projects, are expected to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 865,000 homes annually. This clean energy will also avoid the release of over 3.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions over the term of the power purchase agreements. These environmental benefits align with Google’s commitment to powering its global operations with carbon-free energy by 2030, a goal that is supported by sourcing renewable energy at scale.
“By partnering with the Grand River Dam Authority and LRE, Google is furthering its ambition to power our facilities with carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy at Google. “These power purchase agreements demonstrate how our scalable procurement approach is transforming the acquisition of clean energy and accelerating the development of carbon-free energy sources.”
These efforts highlight the growing importance of large-scale renewable energy solutions in meeting both business needs and environmental goals. As more companies and industries commit to sustainability, the development of infrastructure to support clean energy generation is essential in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Grid Resilience and Long-Term Energy Security
As the demand for electricity continues to grow, the need for reliable and resilient power sources becomes increasingly urgent. The solar projects being developed in Oklahoma are designed not only to provide energy to Google’s operations but also to contribute to the overall stability of the electric grid. By co-locating solar generation resources near high-demand locations like Google’s data center, the new solar capacity can be integrated efficiently into the regional transmission network, reducing the risk of grid congestion and enhancing overall grid resilience.
“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,” said Aaron Zubaty, CEO of Eolian. “In a time of growing electricity demand to power our overall economy, these solar projects provide a very tangible and real solution.”
The partnership between LRE, Google, and other stakeholders highlights the growing role of clean energy in ensuring energy security. As renewable energy sources like solar power become a larger share of the energy mix, they provide a more sustainable foundation for the long-term energy needs of the region and the nation.
Read more: LRE Unveils 700+ MWac Solar Projects in Oklahoma with Google Agreements
