PRYOR, Okla. (Sept. 23, 2016) — Google plans to expand its data center in Pryor, Okla., bringing the company's total investment in the area to $2 billion by 2018, the company said Friday.

The new investment will boost local employment in Mayes County by more than 400 people, said Andrew Silvestri, head of public policy and external affairs for Google Oklahoma.

Google first announced plans to build a new data center complex in Mayes County in 2007. In 2012, the company announced a second data center building on the site at Prior's MidAmerica Industrial Park.

The company said it has invested more than $700 million in its Mayes County operation and created more than 100 jobs in the area so far.

In 2013, Google paid PepsiCo Inc. $24.5 million for an idled Gatorade plant next to its Mayes County industrial plant. The 1.4 million-square-foot former Gatorade plant is one of the largest industrial buildings in the state.

Google has purchased nearly 2.5 gigawatts of renewable energy for its data centers around the world, including in Oklahoma, Silvestri said.

In Oklahoma, Google signed contracts for 572 megawatts of wind power in Grady, Caddo, Beaver, Dewey, Ellis, and Woodward counties, which have resulted in more than $500 million in renewable energy investment in Oklahoma.

"Google's $2 billion dollar investment announcement in Oklahoma is yet another example of our state's success in attracting, retaining and growing some of the best companies in the world," Gov. Mary Fallin said in a statement.