RWE and Google have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement covering the full output of RWE's Crooked Creek Solar project in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, marking the German energy company's first solar development in the state and adding a significant new clean energy source to the Southwest Power Pool grid.

Agreement Details and Timeline

The power purchase agreement covers all electricity generated by the 155-megawatt Crooked Creek Solar facility, with Google purchasing the total output over the duration of the contract.

RWE plans to begin onsite construction at the McCurtain County site later this year, with the project expected to reach commercial operation in 2028. Once online, the electricity generated will support Google's operations within the Southwest Power Pool market, which covers a large portion of the central United States.

Ingmar Ritzenhofen, Chief Commercial Officer at RWE Americas, described the deal as an important milestone for the company's North American operations. "This agreement with Google marks an important milestone for RWE Americas and reflects the growing demand for affordable, reliable, domestically produced energy," Ritzenhofen said.

"Crooked Creek Solar demonstrates how strategic partnerships can accelerate new energy development while creating jobs, generating local tax revenue and strengthening communities."

Will Conkling, Director of Energy and Power at Google, emphasized the grid reliability dimension of the agreement. "Supporting a strong, stable, affordable grid is a top priority as we expand our infrastructure," Conkling said.

"Our agreement with RWE adds critical new generation to the local system, boosting the amount of affordable and reliable power supply for Oklahoma and the region."

Local Economic Impact During Construction and Operations

RWE has quantified the expected economic contribution of Crooked Creek Solar to McCurtain County and the surrounding region across both the construction and operational phases of the project.

During construction, the project is expected to generate an estimated USD 24.3 million in local economic activity and approximately $1.4 million in state and local tax revenue for McCurtain County. The construction phase is anticipated to employ up to 250 workers onsite at peak activity.

The long-term economic benefits extend well beyond the construction period. Over the operating lifetime of the project, Crooked Creek Solar is projected to deliver an estimated USD 25 million to county programs, local emergency medical services, the Broken Bow School District, and regional technology education centers.

RWE also noted that it has provided more than USD 100,000 in donations, sponsorships, and other community-driven partnerships in Oklahoma to date, and indicated it intends to deepen its engagement with local organizations in McCurtain County.

RWE's Growing Oklahoma Footprint

Crooked Creek Solar represents RWE's entry into solar development in Oklahoma, but the company already has an established presence in the state through other energy assets.

RWE owns and operates the 148-megawatt Boiling Springs wind project in Woodward County and has six additional power projects totaling 1.6 gigawatts currently in development across Oklahoma.

The Crooked Creek project adds to what the company describes as a broad and expanding commitment to the state's energy market. RWE's investment in the project is framed within its wider strategy of meeting growing demand for domestically produced electricity, with the company pointing to the project as an example of locally sourced generation supporting both commercial customers and regional grid stability.

RWE's U.S. Investment Strategy

Crooked Creek Solar is part of a substantially larger investment program RWE is executing across the United States. The company currently operates approximately 13 gigawatts of installed generation capacity in the U.S., comprising solar, onshore wind, and battery storage assets spread across 27 states on both the East and West Coasts.

By 2031, RWE plans to invest a net USD 19.57 billion in the United States, a figure the company says represents nearly half of its globally planned investment volume of USD 40.28 billion. Through this investment, RWE intends to add 9 gigawatts of new generation capacity, which would bring its total U.S. installed capacity to 22 gigawatts.

Alongside continued expansion of its wind, solar, and battery storage portfolio, RWE has signaled plans to develop flexible generation capacity in the U.S. market. The company highlighted a particular focus on flexible gas-fired peaking power plants, describing them as a mechanism for ensuring reliable power supply and supporting grid stability as the overall generation mix continues to evolve.

The Crooked Creek deal with Google fits within a pattern of technology companies entering long-term power purchase agreements to secure electricity supplies for data center and cloud infrastructure operations.

For RWE, the agreement provides revenue certainty for a new development-stage asset while establishing its first solar presence in Oklahoma ahead of what the company has indicated will be a broader pipeline of projects in the state.

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