Google, with one of the largest data centers in the world located in northeast Oklahoma, recently made a power contract with a 350-megawatt solar project north of Austin, Texas.
Google LLC reached the agreement with Engie North America, part of French utility Engie SA and the Chillingham solar project is anticipated to go online later in the year. The Chillingham photovoltaic (PV) farm is being installed north of Austin, in Texas’ Bell County, reported Renewables Now. Google will use procured electricity from the plant to meet the demand of its Texas operations.
The agreement falls in line with Google’s goal of operating all of its centers carbon-free by 2030. Google’s Oklahoma operation in Pryor began in 2007 when a data center complex was constructed. Expansions were made in 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2019, resulting in Google investing more than $4.4 billion in its long-term Oklahoma commitment.
Its website states that it has created jobs for more than 800 people who work in a variety of full-time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers, and various food services, maintenance, and security roles.
Google stated that in 2023 in Oklahoma, it had $1.98 billion of economic activity for tens of thousands of Oklahoma businesses, publishers, nonprofits, creators, and developers.