Oklahoma is in the middle of one of the largest energy and infrastructure buildouts in its history. Solar developers are locking down land for utility-scale projects, and tech companies are racing to build data centers close to the power that feeds them. If you own land — or land rights — in one of the counties below, there's a real chance you'll be contacted by a developer, a landman, or a utility representative in the next year or two, if you haven't already.

Here's where the activity is concentrated, and what landowners in these areas need to know before they sign anything.

Where the Solar Development Is Happening

McCurtain County — RWE is building its first Oklahoma solar project here, the 155-megawatt Crooked Creek Solar project, under a 15-year power purchase agreement with Google. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with commercial operation targeted for 2028.

Bryan County — Leeward Renewable Energy has launched solar farms across the state, including a project in Bryan County that the company says will contribute $150 million to the local tax base. A separate Bryan County solar project came online in early 2026.

Mayes County — This county is seeing some of the heaviest solar activity in the state. Leeward is developing three solar facilities near Pryor Creek generating roughly 370 megawatts combined, and construction has begun on the 372-MWac Mayes County Solar Portfolio, sited within a mile of Google's data center in Pryor.

Muskogee County — A 200 MW utility-scale solar project came online here in late 2025, part of the broader eastern Oklahoma buildout.

Choctaw County — The Choctaw Fields Solar Project, an 85 MW facility, came online in early 2026.

Where the Data Centers Are Landing

Tulsa County — Google and Beale Infrastructure are building a 506-acre data center campus in unincorporated Tulsa County near Cherokee Industrial Park, with Public Service Company of Oklahoma powering the site and Beale funding a new on-site substation. Meta is also building its first Oklahoma data center in Tulsa.

Muskogee County — Core Scientific has partnered with Port Muskogee on a 100 MW high-performance computing facility, with a second campus planned nearby. Google also has a campus under construction in Muskogee County.

Payne County (Stillwater) — Google has an additional data center campus under construction in Stillwater as part of its broader Oklahoma investment.

Pittsburg County area — A large data center project is in early planning stages, with the exact site still being determined between Pittsburg and neighboring Atoka County — a decision local officials say carries real consequences for which county collects the tax revenue.

Okmulgee County — A proposed data center site here recently had a floodplain permit denied without prejudice, pending further engineering data — a reminder that even announced projects can run into local zoning and permitting hurdles.

What This Means If You Own Land Nearby

If you're a landowner, mineral owner, or surface owner in or near any of these counties, here's what tends to show up in your mailbox or driveway once development activity picks up in your area:

• Lease or option offers from solar developers — often presented as a simple, one-time opportunity, but the terms (length, renewal rights, decommissioning obligations, payment escalators) vary enormously between offers.
• Easement or right-of-way requests tied to new transmission lines or substations needed to move power from solar projects to data centers.
• Eminent domain exposure, particularly for property near planned transmission corridors or substation sites.
• Water and infrastructure questions, since data centers can bring significant water and utility demands to a county that hasn't dealt with them before.
• Inquiries from neighbors or local officials about zoning, floodplain permits, or tax base changes tied to a nearby project — which can affect your own property's value and obligations even if you're not the one being asked to sign.

Before You Sign Anything

We regularly review solar and renewable energy lease offers for Oklahoma landowners, and we help clients understand what they're actually agreeing to — not just what the offer sheet says. If you've been contacted about a lease, option, or easement tied to a project in one of these counties, it's worth having someone look at it before you commit.

Hayes Legal Solutions, PLLC 6420 N. Santa Fe, Suite C, Oklahoma City, OK Office:  405-635-5578 or 405-594-7943 www.hayeslegalsolutions.com