Renewables developer and power producer Cypress Creek Energy announced the commercial operation of its Ostrea Solar project, its new $180 million, 104 MWdc renewable energy facility in Yakima County, Washington.
The company also revealed that Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Cypress Creek for electricity and environmental products generated by the project, serving as its long-term offtaker.
The project comes online at a time of rising energy demand in Washington State, which led the nation in economic growth during the first quarter of 2026, Cypress Creek said.
The new project is interconnected to the Bonneville Power Administration transmission system and is expected to add 104 MWdc/80 MWac of clean energy to the region’s power system.
Cypress Creek said that the project was developed with a focus on land management and environmental stewardship, including modifying the project design in coordination with state environmental officials to conserve approximately 275 acres of critical shrubsteppe habitat. The project also includes wildlife corridors to maintain migratory pathways, while degraded former cropland on the site was cleared of invasive and non-native species, revegetated, and seeded with grasses and pollinator-friendly flowering plants.
Kevin Smith, CEO of Cypress Creek Energy, said:
“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.”
