Meta buys over 1 GW of renewables to power its data centers

In a significant move to enhance its renewable energy capabilities, Meta has recently secured contracts that will add over 1 gigawatt of generating capacity to its portfolio. The social media giant revealed on Thursday its plans to acquire 791 megawatts of solar and wind energy from Invenergy, covering locations in Ohio, Arkansas, and Texas. Additionally, on Wednesday, Meta announced it would purchase environmental attributes from two solar farms operated by Adapture Renewables in Texas, amounting to another 360 megawatts. These projects are slated to become operational in 2027 and 2028. Meta's aggressive push for renewable energy is part of a broader trend, as the company has been actively securing renewable resources. Just last month, it finalized a deal for 650 megawatts from two solar initiatives being developed by AES, a major player in the utility and power generation sector. Furthermore, earlier this month, Meta partnered with XGS Energy to construct a 150-megawatt enhanced geothermal power facility in New Mexico. These investments in renewable energy come at a crucial time, especially as discussions in Congress consider cutting subsidies for such technologies. Notably, solar energy stands out as the quickest method for data centers to secure new power supplies, with many solar farms capable of becoming operational within approximately 18 months, often delivering energy even sooner through phased construction.