Google announced that a new partnership with renewables developer Cypress Creek Energy, with the tech giant signing on to become the anchor investor and offtaker for the Steel River Energy Center project in Arkansas – the largest-ever solar facility in the U.S. – including a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy 100% of the energy from the project’s initial phases.

The deal marks the largest solar and storage agreement to date for Google, one of the largest corporate purchasers of clean energy globally.

Google has significantly accelerated its renewable energy purchase activity in recent years as its datacenter buildout footprint has expanded. The company’s recent Environmental Report indicated its largest ever annual increase in electricity demand, rising 37% in 2025, yet noted that Google achieved a 2% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions during the year, crediting its massive clean energy purchase program as a key factor in decoupling its energy use from emissions.

Despite the progress on controlling direct emissions, however, the company’s value chain emissions increased significantly during the year, and Google acknowledged in the report that its “moonshot” climate goals, including its  24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) ambition, are becoming harder to achieve, as its AI infrastructure buildout accelerates faster than the grid is decarbonizing.

In a post announcing the new agreement, Will Conkling, Head of Data Center Energy, and Christopher Scott, Data Center Energy Lead at Google, said:

“We’re working to source local carbon-free energy around the clock for our data centers. Steel River is a game changer because it pairs massive solar arrays with advanced battery storage systems. This project can store the sun’s peak daytime output and feed it back into the grid exactly when it’s needed most, growing a more reliable, resilient grid that can meet rising electricity demand while keeping power affordable for everyone.”

Under the new agreement, Google has secured energy from the first two phases of the Mississippi County, Arkansas-based project, which are anticipated to add 1.6 GWdc of solar generation and 1.9 GWh of battery storage to the regional grid. Under a planned third phase, anticipated to be fully operational by 2029, the project is expected to reach 2.5 GWdc of solar and 2.9 GWh of battery storage. Cypress Creek recently announced that it had secured $3.5 billion in financing to fund the construction and operation of the first two phases of the project.

Cypress Creek noted that nearly all of the project’s structural steel will come from Mississippi County, and that the project will also utilize 100% U.S.-made solar modules, as well as battery cells manufactured entirely in North America, predominantly at U.S. factories.

Cypress Creek Energy CEO Kevin Smith said:

“Some people still question whether a domestic solar supply chain is possible. This project is proof. River is the largest solar project with energy storage in the country, and it’s being built with 100% U.S.-made solar panels and structural steel. That’s good for American manufacturing, good for Arkansas, and good for the country’s energy future.”

Alongside the new agreement, Google and Cypress Creek announced that they are committing a combined $8 million to support local communities through dedicated community investment funds, including a $5 million commitment from Google in energy affordability initiatives to support local Arkansas residents and K-12 schools, and $3 million from Cypress Creek through its community investment program.