KEY POINTS
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Cypress Creek and Google have started construction on the first two phases of the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, a project the companies say will become the nation’s largest solar development.
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The first two phases are expected to add 1.6 GWdc of solar generation and 1.9 GWh of battery storage, with the full three-phase buildout reaching 2.5 GWdc and 2.9 GWh by 2029.
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Project backers said the development will support about 700 construction jobs per phase, use Arkansas steel and U.S.-made components, and include $8 million in community investments.
Cypress Creek Energy and Google broke ground on the first two phases of the Steel River Energy Center in Mississippi County, Ark., which the companies describe as the nation’s largest solar project to date, according to a July 14 statement from Cypress Creek.
The groundbreaking marks the start of work on the first two phases of the three-phase development near Wilson, Ark.
Once complete, Steel River is expected to deliver enough electricity to power more than 315,000 Arkansas homes each year.
Cypress Creek said the first two phases will add 1.6 GWdc of solar generation and 1.9 GWh of battery storage to the local grid. The full project is slated to reach 2.5 GWdc of solar and 2.9 GWh of storage by 2029.
GWdc refers to the direct current (DC) power output of a solar energy system as measured in gigawatts.
An image shows a solar panel team at work. Image: Cypress Creek
Google Locks in Power from First Two Phases
Under a power purchase agreement with Cypress Creek, Google has secured energy from the project’s first two phases. Cypress Creek said that makes Steel River the largest solar-and-storage project in Google’s global portfolio.
Company officials said the project is intended to support rising electricity demand tied to industrial growth in Arkansas, including steelmaking, data centers and other large employers.
Entergy Arkansas President and CEO Laura Landreaux said in the statement that the project would help the state meet growing power demand while keeping energy costs more manageable by adding lower-cost solar generation to the grid.
Arkansas Supply Chain Plays Central Role
Cypress Creek is positioning the project as both an energy investment and a manufacturing story.
The company said nearly all of the project’s structural steel will come from Mississippi County, which it described as the nation’s leading steel-producing county. For the first two phases, PACO Steel is expected to supply more than 400,000 steel piles manufactured in Blytheville using more than 142,000 tons of steel coils produced at U.S. Steel’s Big River Steel facility in Osceola.
Cypress Creek also said the project will use solar trackers from Nextpower, 100% U.S.-made solar modules from First Solar and battery energy storage systems from LG Energy Solution Vertech assembled in the United States with battery cells produced entirely in North America.
Cypress Creek CEO Kevin Smith said the project shows that a domestic solar supply chain can support utility-scale development. Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Clint O’Neal said the facility will showcase American manufacturing and provide energy storage support for industrial operations in the state.
Jobs, Tax Base, and Community Funding
Steel River is expected to create about 700 construction jobs per phase and generate an estimated $300 million in local tax revenue over the life of the project, benefiting Mississippi County, the Town of Wilson and the Rivercrest School District, Cypress Creek said. Moss has been selected as engineering, procurement, and construction contractor.
Google and Cypress Creek also said they will commit a combined $8 million to local community investment funds.
According to the statement, Google will provide $5 million for energy affordability initiatives serving Arkansas residents andK-12 schools. Cypress Creek said it will add $3 million through its community investment program, beginning with a $400,000 contribution to Rivercrest School District for a new playground.
Rivercrest Superintendent Shantele Raper said the funding would create opportunities for students that otherwise would not exist and would support the district well into the future.
Bigger Picture for Utility-Scale Solar
Cypress Creek framed the project as part of a broader national buildout of solar and battery storage.
The company said solar and battery storage accounted for 91% of all new U.S. electricity-generating capacity added in the first quarter of 2026, helping drive demand for domestically produced steel, panels, batteries, and related energy technologies.
Steel River’s sponsors are anticipating that the combination of large-scale generation, battery storage, and domestic sourcing will make the Arkansas project a model for future grid and industrial-power development.
In June, Cypress Creek Energy said it reached financial close on Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Steel River Energy Center, securing $3.5 billion to support construction and long-term operation of the project’s first two phases.
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