Meta Exits RE100 Amid Natural Gas Expansion
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The tech giant has funded at least a dozen gas plants to power AI data centers, highlighting a shift in its energy strategy.
Meta has departed RE100, a corporate renewable energy initiative managed by the U.K.-based nonprofit Climate Group, according to reporting from Recharge News and confirmation provided to TechCrunch. A Meta spokesperson described the split as mutual. The exit follows a decade of membership and comes as the Climate Group has recently implemented more rigorous reporting requirements for companies tracking their renewable energy progress.
The departure coincides with Meta's aggressive pivot toward fossil fuels to meet the power demands of its AI infrastructure. TechCrunch reports that Meta has funded at least 12 natural gas power plants over the last year. This includes a 200-megawatt plant in Ohio announced in June 2023, as well as 10 plants designated for the Hyperion data center in Louisiana—three announced in August 2023 and seven more in April 2024. Combined, those 10 plants will generate 7.5 gigawatts, a volume of electricity TechCrunch notes is enough to power the entire state of South Dakota.
Despite these investments, a Meta spokesperson told TechCrunch the company remains committed to matching its data center electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy. This is achievable through the purchase of environmental attribute certificates, which allow companies to offset data center power use with separate renewable projects. While Google and Microsoft have also invested in fossil fuel projects, TechCrunch notes that Meta has placed the largest bet on natural gas. In contrast, Microsoft is pursuing hourly electricity matching, and Google recently invested in renewable projects paired with batteries in Minnesota.