Meta has entered into three agreements this week to acquire nearly 1 gigawatt of solar power, which contributes to the company’s overall aim of enhancing its artificial intelligence (AI) operations. This brings Meta’s total solar energy purchases to over 3 gigawatts for the year, indicating a significant investment in renewable energy, particularly as tech firms expand their data center operations.
Two of the recent deals involve purchasing the environmental attributes associated with a total of 385 megawatts of electricity from projects in Louisiana, which are expected to be completed in two years. These purchases allow Meta to offset the emissions from its carbon-intensive energy sources. Additionally, a larger agreement made on Monday involves 600 megawatts from a solar farm located near Lubbock, Texas, which is projected to begin commercial operations in 2027. While the Texas facility won’t directly supply Meta’s data centers, it will contribute to the local grid, effectively offsetting the power usage of its facilities.
The environmental attribute certificates (EACs), sometimes referred to as renewable energy certificates, that Meta is acquiring have faced scrutiny from experts who argue that they obscure the actual carbon footprint of tech companies. These certificates were originally designed to support the growth of renewable energy when it was more costly compared to fossil fuels, providing companies with a way to offset emissions. However, as the cost of solar and wind energy has significantly decreased, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of EACs in promoting the development of additional renewable energy capacity. Critics suggest that if companies genuinely wish to mitigate their energy consumption related to AI, they should prioritize the encouragement of new renewable energy projects.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/31/meta-bought-1-gw-of-solar-this-week/