The company has committed to 10 natural gas plants since last year.
Ten years ago, Meta joined RE100, a major renewable energy initiative aimed at helping large companies transition to renewable electricity. Today, the company has withdrawn from the group as it increasingly relies on natural gas for its AI data centers.
RE100 is overseen by the UK non-profit Climate Group. It has more than 400 members, including Microsoft, Google and Apple, all of whom have committed to covering 100% of their energy needs from renewable sources. Meta, like TechCrunch notes, signed in 2016 with a 2020 target to achieve its goal.
Meta’s involvement in RE100 has always been voluntary, but this move highlights how the company’s priorities have changed as it invests huge amounts of money in AI infrastructure. Meta’s departure from the pact was first reported by Reload. Climate Group told the publication that the creator of Facebook and Instagram “is no longer able to meet the technical criteria due to investments in a new gas-fired power plant.” Meta, for her part, said TechCrunch that he was still committed to “100% clean and renewable energy” but that leaving RE100 was a “mutual” decision.
Earlier this year, Meta announced it would finance seven new natural gas plants to power its data centers. The company has now engaged in 10 such projects since last year.
Like both TechCrunch And Reload It should be noted that the financing of natural gas plants does not necessarily mean that Meta cannot still claim to respect its commitments in terms of renewable energies. Companies like Meta typically deliver on their promises by purchasing energy attribute certificates to offset their use of fossil fuels.
But Meta has now invested so much in natural gas: Its 10 natural gas power plants will produce enough energy to power the state of South Dakota, according to CT — it will become more difficult to compensate. Or, as one analyst put it Reload“a 100 percent renewable claim becomes more difficult to defend.”
