AEP plans $4bn Wyoming fuel cell project for Google

Cheyenne, Wyoming - American Electric Power plans to invest approximately $4 billion in a 702MW fuel cell generation project near Cheyenne to support Google’s growing power requirements in the area.

The project will be developed through Cheyenne Fuel Cell LLC, which is approximately 92% owned and controlled by AEP. Funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners will hold the remaining interest of nearly 8%.

Google will purchase electricity from the facility under a 20-year power purchase agreement. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with full operations targeted for the end of 2028.

The development will use solid oxide fuel cell technology supplied by Bloom Energy. The system generates electricity through an electrochemical process rather than combustion and is intended to provide reliable, on-demand power for large-load customers.

AEP also plans to integrate carbon capture technology into the project as part of its aim to provide near-zero-emissions generation.

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.”

The project forms part of AEP’s wider strategy to meet increasing electricity demand from large-scale customers, particularly as data centre and AI infrastructure place greater pressure on power networks.

AEP has been preparing for the Wyoming development for some time. Earlier company filings showed that it had committed around $2.65 billion for solid oxide fuel cells intended for a generation facility near Cheyenne, backed by a long-term offtake arrangement.

The Cheyenne project now moves that plan into a defined development programme tied directly to Google, with construction expected to progress through 2026–2028.