Cypress Creek brings $180 mln, 104 MW solar project online

05 / 09 / 2026

By Marwa Nassar - -

Cypress Creek Energy has brought its $180 million Ostrea Solar project in Yakima County, Washington, online, adding 104 MWdc, or 80 MWac, of new solar generation to the regional grid as the state’s economy and electricity demand continue to grow.

Microsoft has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Cypress Creek for electricity and environmental products generated by the project, which is interconnected to the Bonneville Power Administration transmission system.

The project comes online as Washington’s economy and electricity demand continue to grow. The state led the US in economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, with real GDP rising at an annualized 4.5%, more than twice the national rate.

“Washington’s economy is growing, and that growth requires more electricity,” said Kevin Smith, CEO of Cypress Creek Energy. “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.”

$180 mln energy investment:

Ostrea represents approximately $180 million in private capital investment and is expected to generate an estimated $13.3 million in state and local tax revenue over its operating life.

Construction created about 300 jobs, all paid at prevailing wage rates, and included an apprenticeship program that provided workers with experience in the construction trades. About 75 apprentices contributed 39,000 hours to the project.

PCL Solar Constructors USA, Inc. served as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. The project recorded zero recordable injuries or incidents during construction.

275 acres preserved:

Cypress Creek worked with the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to modify the project design and conserve about 275 acres of critical shrubsteppe habitat.

The company also contributed funding to WDFW for additional conservation work in the region.

Wildlife corridors were incorporated into the project to maintain migratory routes, including those used by Rocky Mountain elk.

Native habitat restored:

The project includes land that had been degraded former cropland and left largely unused for more than 25 years, allowing invasive and non-native plant species to spread.

Cypress Creek removed invasive plants during construction and reseeded disturbed areas with native grasses and pollinator-friendly flowering plants. Lower-growing species were selected around the solar arrays to maintain healthy vegetation without interfering with the panels.

More than 90% of the land within a typical solar project remains open beneath and around the panels, according to Cypress Creek, allowing vegetation and habitat management to continue alongside power generation.

The company plans to own and operate Ostrea for up to 40 years, with land management continuing throughout the project’s operating life. At the end of that period, Cypress Creek aims to leave the land in condition suitable for agriculture or another future use.

Local community spending:

Cypress Creek has made several investments in the Yakima-area community, including a $50,000 contribution toward the new aquatic center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Yakima and a back-to-school drive at Moxee Elementary School with PCL.

Through its Energizing Tomorrow’s Leaders program, the company has provided $18,500 in scholarships to 14 Yakima County students since 2023.

Ostrea has also supported Cypress Creek’s partnership with Oregon Institute of Technology, which provides scholarships and educational opportunities for students pursuing energy-related careers.

40-year commitment:

Cypress Creek Solutions, the company’s in-house operations and maintenance organization, will oversee Ostrea’s safe and reliable operation, vegetation and land management, and relationships with the surrounding community throughout the project’s operating life.