Meta data center in Lebanon plans temporary off-grid gas facility

Meta's data center under construction in Lebanon, Indiana, is planning to utilize the state's first off-grid power source temporarily. Texas-based Life Cycle Power (LCP) has submitted an air emissions permit application to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to provide 134 megawatts of power using gas-fired generators. These generators are intended to bridge the power supply for the data facility's initial operations, expected by 2027, until a permanent connection to the local utility grid is established.

Geoff Bland, senior vice president with LCP, confirmed that while the permit application requested 65 generators, likely only 32 will be deployed due to improved proximity to the regional power grid. He emphasized the temporary nature of the facility, stating the generators would be operational through the end of 2027 before being demobilized. Bland also noted that using natural gas and advanced exhaust technology, similar to a car's catalytic converter, significantly diminishes harmful emissions compared to diesel.

The proposed off-grid power solution has drawn scrutiny from the consumer watchdog group Citizens Action Coalition (CAC). Ben Inskeep of CAC expressed concerns about potential air pollution, including ground-level ozone and smog, which could negatively impact public health, particularly for individuals with respiratory illnesses. CAC has also advocated for a statewide moratorium on AI data centers until more robust state policies are implemented, citing that 19 counties in Indiana have already enacted temporary moratoriums. A Meta spokesperson stated the company and LCP are working with IDEM to ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local air quality requirements.

Beyond environmental concerns, Inskeep and directors at Energy Innovations, Jeff Rissman and Brendan Pierpont, highlighted potential upward pressure on natural gas markets, which could lead to affordability issues for other customers. Rissman pointed out that such off-grid operations also mean data centers do not contribute to regional grid maintenance costs, potentially impacting utility customers. Bland, however, maintains that LCP's fuel demand will not affect utility customers, citing the current low cost of natural gas in the U.S.