Cypress Creek Energy has brought its Ostrea Solar project in Yakima County, Washington, into commercial operation, introducing 104 MWdc / 80 MWac of new generation capacity to the regional power grid.
Stakeholders and community representatives gathered on 2 September to mark the completion of the $180 million privately funded facility. Interconnected to the Bonneville Power Administration transmission network, the project comes as Washington recorded 4.5 per cent annualized real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven largely by expansion across the technology sector.
Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, will serve as the long-term off-taker for the electricity and environmental attributes generated by the plant.
Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Cypress Creek Energy, stated: “Washington’s economy is growing, and that growth requires more electricity. Ostrea shows how we can responsibly bring new power online quickly and affordably, while creating lasting benefits for the communities where we operate, and caring for the land for generations to come.”
Key environmental and economic aspects of the development include:
- Habitat Conservation: In coordination with the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the site layout was modified to preserve roughly 275 acres of shrubsteppe ecosystem. The installation incorporates wildlife corridors for migrating Rocky Mountain elk and establishes pollinator-friendly revegetation beneath the arrays.
- Financial and Capital Impact: The facility represents approximately $13.3 million in projected state and local tax revenue over its 40-year operating lifecycle.
- Construction and Employment: Engineering, procurement, and construction contractor PCL Solar Constructors USA managed site construction, creating around 300 prevailing-wage jobs. The project logged 39,000 apprenticeship hours across 75 workers and recorded zero reportable safety incidents.
Cypress Creek will maintain direct operational oversight, land management, and community engagement via its in-house operations and maintenance division, Cypress Creek Solutions.
