U.S. solar developer Cypress Creek Energy has brought its Ostrea Solar project online in Yakima County, Washington, with Microsoft as the long-term buyer of the electricity generated.

Cypress Creek Energy has announced the commercial operation of its Ostrea Solar project, located in Yakima County, Washington. The facility adds a new source of locally generated electricity to the regional grid. Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, has committed as the long-term buyer of the electricity and environmental attributes generated by the site, echoing other corporate solar power purchase agreements signed recently, such as the one between METLEN and Coca-Cola Tria Epsilon.

A 104 MWdc Capacity Connected to Bonneville Power Administration

The project is interconnected to the transmission system of the Bonneville Power Administration, the federal agency that manages most of the electricity transport in the Pacific Northwest. Ostrea Solar adds 104 megawatts direct current (MWdc), or 80 megawatts alternating current (MWac), to the region's generation capacity, according to Cypress Creek Energy. The company says it will own and operate the facility for up to 40 years.

The development is part of a broader trend of solar power purchase agreements tied to major technology companies, similar to the solar-storage project launched by MN8 Energy, Google and Eos Energy in West Virginia. According to Cypress Creek Energy, Ostrea Solar is designed to meet rising electricity demand linked to Washington State's economic growth.

A Regional Economy Driven by the Technology Sector

Washington posted the strongest economic growth of any U.S. state in the first quarter of 2026, with real gross domestic product rising at an annualized rate of 4.5%, more than double the national average, according to data cited by Cypress Creek Energy. The information sector was the leading contributor to that growth, underscoring the link between the state's technology-driven economy and the infrastructure needed to power it.

"Washington's economy is growing, and that growth requires more electricity," said Kevin Smith, chief executive officer of Cypress Creek Energy, quoted in the company's statement. The executive presented Ostrea Solar as an example of quickly and affordably bringing new generation capacity online, while pointing to lasting benefits for local communities.

Conservation of 275 Acres of Natural Habitat

Developing the project required working with the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Cypress Creek Energy says it modified the site design to conserve approximately 275 acres of shrubsteppe habitat, an ecosystem of which an estimated 80% of the state's historic acreage has been lost or degraded to development and agriculture, according to the company. The project also incorporates corridors intended to maintain migratory pathways for local wildlife, including Rocky Mountain elk.

Part of the site, made up of former cropland left unfarmed for more than 25 years, underwent removal of invasive plant species followed by revegetation with mixes of grasses and pollinator-friendly plants. Lower-growing species were selected beneath and around the panels to avoid interfering with the arrays.

A $180 Million Private Investment in Yakima County

Ostrea Solar represents approximately $180 million in private capital investment in Yakima County, according to Cypress Creek Energy. The company notes that more than 90% of the land within a typical solar project remains available for vegetation beneath and around the panels, contrary to a common perception that solar sites are entirely covered. Once the site reaches the end of its operating life, Cypress Creek Energy says its goal is to return the land in good condition, suitable for agricultural use or whatever purpose future generations determine is best.