Google’s West Memphis data center is set to be powered by the “nation’s largest solar project.”
Cypress Creek Energy will hold July 14 a ceremonial groundbreaking for its Steel River Energy Center in Wilson, Arkansas.
The solar project will combine solar panels and battery storage, which will be able to provide a combined 5.35 gigawatts of power once completed in 2029.
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The project will be implemented in phases, with the first two phases adding 1.64 gigawatts and 1.96 gigawatts of solar and battery storage, respectively, to the regional grid.
Google is supporting the first two phases of the project.
With a projected third phase being completed by 2029, the split output will be 2.46 gigawatts of solar power and 2.94 gigawatts of battery storage. The battery storage will be able to power more than 467,000 homes in the East Arkansas region during peak demand periods, according to a news release.
Steel River Energy Center is expected to provide power generation for steel manufacturing, data centers and other major industries in the region.
In March, Cypress Creek Renewables acquired the Steel River project from Swift Current Energy. The project will add over $4.5 billion in energy infrastructure to the region. The project is also expected to create approximately 1,400 on-site construction jobs and 19 permanent jobs.
The infrastructure project is also expected to generate $300 million in local tax revenue.
In October 2025, Google announced plans for its $4 billion West Memphis data center campus at 1500 South Loop Drive. The project is situated on 1,100 acres southeast of the city’s Main Street corridor.
At the time, Google also announced a partnership with utility company Entergy and its $25 million Energy Impact Fund that would help finance affordable energy initiatives for Crittenden County and Eastern Arkansas communities.
In April, Google announced Groundswell Community Power and Crowley’s Ridge Development Council were awarded $5 milllion from the Energy Impact Fund.
Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679 

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