Meta gives tour of Huntsville data center amid questions over energy, water use
Meta gave WAFF a tour of its Huntsville data center, describing its role in supporting Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and the company’s AI applications. The company discussed its electricity and water practices but did not disclose facility-specific usage figures, and it is scheduled to present to the Huntsville City Council.
Meta opened its Huntsville data center to a media tour, showcasing a facility that stores information for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and supports the company’s artificial intelligence applications. Henry Thornton of Meta said the center’s electricity use is matched with clean and renewable energy, although he declined to provide an exact consumption figure.
Thornton said the facility receives power through the Tennessee Valley Authority and water from Huntsville Utilities. He characterized Meta as a responsible water user and said the company aims to become water-positive by 2030, but did not provide specific water-use data for the Huntsville site. Meta also said it has contributed millions of dollars to Madison County initiatives and is scheduled to present information about the facility at a Dec. 3 Huntsville City Council meeting.