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Google has agreed to buy power for 20 years from a planned 702-megawatt fuel-cell facility near Cheyenne, Wyoming. American Electric Power (AEP) announced the project on October 14, 2026, estimating an investment of approximately $4 billion. Construction is planned for 2026, with full operation expected by the end of 2028.
Deal at a glance
| Item | announced terms |
|---|---|
| Power buyer | |
| Project company | Cheyenne Fuel Cell, LLC |
| Developer and controlling owner | AEP, with approximately 92% ownership |
| Minority owner | Funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners, LLP, with nearly 8% |
| Planned generation capacity | 702 MW |
| Estimated investment | Approximately $4 billion, according to AEP |
| Contract | 20-year power-purchase agreement (PPA) |
| Fuel-cell supplier | Bloom Energy |
| Construction | Planned to begin in 2026 |
| Full operation | Expected by the end of 2028; this is AEP’s current target, not a guaranteed commercial-operation date |
The arrangement makes Google the contracted offtaker rather than the project owner. AEP is developing and controlling the project company that will own and operate the generation asset.
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Who is behind the AEP Cheyenne Fuel Cell project?
AEP says it will own and control approximately 92% of Cheyenne Fuel Cell, LLC. Funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners will hold nearly 8%. The ownership split identifies who controls the project, while Google’s 20-year PPA defines its role as the long-term buyer of the electricity.
Bloom Energy is the named fuel-cell technology supplier. Data Center Dynamics has independently reported the same supplier and the same planned schedule. The announcements do not disclose a final street address for the facility.
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How the Bloom Energy fuel-cell system is intended to work
AEP describes the planned system as rapidly deployable, reliable and capable of generating power on demand without combusting natural gas. That distinction matters for a large data-center load: fuel cells produce electricity electrochemically rather than by burning gas in a conventional turbine or engine.
The project also includes plans to integrate carbon-capture technology. AEP characterizes the intended design as capable of near-zero-emissions power, but the announcement does not provide a final capture rate, equipment configuration, fuel supply arrangement or operating data. “Near-zero” is therefore a design objective, not a measured performance result from an operating plant.
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Construction and operating timeline
- 2026: AEP plans to start construction.
- By the end of 2028: AEP expects the full 702 MW facility to be operating.
The end-of-2028 date is an expectation stated in the announcements. No guaranteed commercial-operation date, detailed permitting path or final financing structure has been disclosed. Schedule changes remain possible as the project moves through permitting, equipment delivery, construction and commissioning.
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The fuel-cell PPA is one part of a broader power buildout around Google’s planned data-center activity in the greater Cheyenne area. Separate agreements with Black Hills Corp. are designed to provide grid and microgrid services alongside the AEP generation project.
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| Black Hills arrangement | Disclosed terms |
|---|---|
| Effective date | September 30, 2026 |
| Term | Runs through 2048 |
| Grid-connected service | Up to 590 MW |
| Private-microgrid resources | Management of approximately 2.1 GW of third-party contracted resources |
| Cost structure | Black Hills says Google bears the costs associated with serving the planned data center |
These arrangements address different pieces of the supply structure. The AEP deal is a long-term purchase of output from a new 702 MW fuel-cell plant. The Black Hills agreements cover grid-connected service and management of other contracted resources through a private microgrid. Together, they show a layered approach rather than a single power contract serving the entire load.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the project matters for data-center power
Data centers require large amounts of electricity around the clock, and their demand can arrive faster than conventional generation and transmission projects can be built. AEP says the Wyoming facility is intended to support Google’s growing energy needs in the greater Cheyenne area while using generation that can be dispatched when needed.
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A 20-year PPA also gives the buyer a long-duration supply arrangement and gives the project a defined customer for its output. The announcements do not state the PPA’s price, indexing formula, minimum-purchase obligations or treatment of power that Google does not use. Those commercial terms will determine how the contract allocates market and operating risk.
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AEP chairman, president and CEO Bill Fehrman said: “As power demand continues to grow, AEP is bringing together new technologies and strong partnerships to deliver reliable, innovative energy solutions quickly and at scale. This project demonstrates how we are creating new opportunities to meet evolving energy needs for customers both within and beyond our traditional service territory.”
What has not been disclosed
- The price and other financial terms of Google’s 20-year PPA.
- The project’s final site address near Cheyenne.
- Detailed permitting and environmental-review steps.
- The final financing structure.
- A guaranteed commercial-operation date.
- Technical details for the carbon-capture system, including capture rate and storage or transportation plans.
For now, the confirmed outline is a planned 702 MW Bloom Energy fuel-cell project, approximately $4 billion of AEP investment, AEP control of the project company, and Google’s 20-year commitment to buy the output. Construction is targeted for 2026 and full operation for the end of 2028, subject to the project completing its remaining development stages.
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