Meta Drops Clean Energy Pledge Amid Gas-Powered Data Centre Push
Meta has withdrawn from the RE100 initiative, a global pledge for companies to source all electricity from renewable sources, due to investments in new natural gas power plants for its data centers. This decision comes amidst a large data center buildout by tech companies, with Meta notably striking deals for 10 natural gas plants to power its Hyperion data center in Louisiana. Despite leaving the pledge, Meta claims it continues to scale renewable energy investments and has met its 100% clean energy goal annually since 2020 through power purchase agreements.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has officially withdrawn from RE100, a global pledge committing companies to 100% renewable electricity. The social media giant confirmed its departure on Friday, citing investments in new natural gas power plants as the reason for no longer meeting the initiative's technical criteria, according to The Climate Group, which oversees RE100.
This move comes amidst a significant expansion of data centers by leading tech companies. Meta, for instance, has secured deals with utilities to bring new natural gas facilities online, including 10 plants specifically designated to power its Hyperion data center in Louisiana. A Meta spokesperson stated that despite leaving RE100, the company remains committed to its goal of matching 100 percent of its electricity usage with clean energy, a target it claims to have met on an annualized basis since 2020 through long-term power purchase agreements with renewable energy providers.
Meta is not alone in this shift. Microsoft recently signed an agreement with Chevron to supply natural gas electricity to a data center in West Texas, and Google has also been linked to similar partnerships. The reliance on natural gas, often framed as a "bridge fuel," raises environmental concerns due to methane leakage during extraction and air pollution from burning.