A company with Canadian connections is in the process of attempting to build three solar farms in eastern Oklahoma’s Mayes County near the town of Pryor Creek and their goal is to be supportive power sources of Google’s data center at Pryor.
It was in January when Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) formally announced over 700-megawatt alternating current (MWac) of renewable energy projects in the state that are supported in part by long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Google.
The company has three projects: Salt Branch Solar phases 1 and 2 which is a 145-MW facility located north of Route 20; Huckleberry Solar, (124.7 MW), and Mayes Solar (101.5 MW) both of which are located South of Pryor Creek and west of Route 69. One of the farms is about one mile from the Google data center.
The Mayes County Solar portfolio will be capable of power the equivalent of more than 865,000 homes a year and also avoiding 3.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions over the term of the PPA.
“By partnering with Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) and LRE, Google is furthering its ambition to power our facilities, including those in Oklahoma, with carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy, Google when the announcement was made in January.
It was also an important announcement at the time for the Grand River Dam Authority.
“We are seeing a dramatic increase in the demand for reliable electricity throughout the country. Google’s support for these solar projects in Oklahoma is a testament to their commitment to help meet the state’s growing energy needs with secure, sustainable solutions.” said John Wiscaver, Executive Vice President at GRDA.
Leeward Renewable’s website stated the three facilities are expected to begin operating by late 2025 and will generate emission-free renewable energy and a substantial property tax base for Mayes County of $78 million in taxes paid over 30 years.
The Mayes County Solar projects are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC. Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) is a high-growth renewable energy company building a sustainable future for all. The company owns and operates a portfolio of 31 wind, solar, and energy storage facilities across the United States, totaling approximately 3 gigawatts of generating capacity.
LRE is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of the largest defined pension plans in Canada, with C$127.4 billion in net assets (as at June 30, 2023).
A report in late July by the Pryor Information Publication indicated there had been some pushback from some areas residents.
“One flashpoint of controversy occurred recently during the initial construction phase, when opponents attempted to petition a rural water district to withhold water access intended for dust suppression on the project sites. While solar farms use no water during operations, dust control during construction is considered essential for public health and safety, especially during dry conditions common in northeastern Oklahoma,” reported the Pryor Information.
It also reported that neighbors to some of the solar farm construction sites “expressed concerns about losing views, quietness and the rural character of the area.”