Meta gives tour of Huntsville data center amid questions over energy, water use
Meta opened its Huntsville data center to media for a tour, highlighting its role in supporting Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and the company’s AI applications. Company officials said the facility matches its electricity use with clean and renewable energy and receives power through the Tennessee Valley Authority, while water is supplied by Huntsville Utilities; Meta did not disclose exact electricity consumption.
Meta invited local media to tour its Huntsville data center, which stores and processes information supporting platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, as well as the company’s AI applications. Henry Thornton of Meta said the facility is part of the infrastructure supporting modern digital services and that the company wanted to address public discussion surrounding data centers.
Thornton said Meta matches the electricity used by its facilities with clean and renewable energy. He declined to provide the Huntsville facility’s exact megawatt consumption, saying the company does not disclose usage at that level for its sub-gigawatt facilities. Meta said the center receives power through the Tennessee Valley Authority and water from Huntsville Utilities, while asserting that the facility will not increase customers’ electricity bills.