Meta's Natural Gas Binge May Power South Dakota

Meta's massive new AI data center may draw as much electricity as South Dakota, forcing the company to rely on natural gas power plants with a significant carbon footprint.

Meta has announced plans to build seven natural gas power plants in Louisiana to support its new AI data center, which will draw as much electricity as the entire state of South Dakota. This decision has sparked criticism, as natural gas is often touted as a "bridge fuel" to help transition to renewable energy sources.

The data center will generate 7.5 gigawatts of electricity, slightly more than the capacity of the entire Mount Rushmore State. This is a significant increase in Meta's carbon footprint, which is already a concern for the company's commitment to sustainability.

"Renewables and batteries have plummeted in price while prices for gas turbines have skyrocketed," says Tim De Chant, senior climate reporter at TechCrunch.

The company's decision to rely on natural gas is particularly perplexing given its history of investing in renewable energy sources, including solar and nuclear power. In fact, Meta has been a leading purchaser of solar and nuclear energy in recent years.

• The massive turbines in Louisiana will dump 12.4 million metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year, according to TechCrunch's calculations.
• This is 50% more than Meta's entire carbon footprint in 2024, the most recent year such numbers are available.
• The company's latest sustainability report makes no mention of methane leaks, which can make natural gas' climate impact worse than coal.

The company may well stick to its climate pledge and find a way to offset those emissions through carbon removal credits. However, it will need a lot more of them, along with an honest accounting of exactly how much methane will leak into the atmosphere in service of feeding its new power plants.

Meta's decision to rely on natural gas power plants is a significant setback for the company's commitment to sustainability. As the tech industry continues to grow, it is essential that companies like Meta prioritize renewable energy sources and reduce their carbon footprint.

The company's latest sustainability report makes no mention of methane leaks, which can make natural gas' climate impact worse than coal. This lack of transparency is concerning, especially given the company's history of investing in renewable energy sources.

In conclusion, Meta's decision to rely on natural gas power plants is a significant setback for the company's commitment to sustainability. The company must prioritize renewable energy sources and reduce its carbon footprint to meet its climate pledge.

The tech industry's reliance on natural gas power plants is a growing concern, and companies like Meta must take a leading role in transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Meta's massive new AI data center may draw as much electricity as South Dakota, forcing the company to rely on natural gas power plants with a significant carbon footprint.

The company's decision to rely on natural gas is particularly perplexing given its history of investing in renewable energy sources, including solar and nuclear power.

• The company's latest sustainability report makes no mention of methane leaks, which can make natural gas' climate impact worse than coal.

Meta's commitment to sustainability is a major part of its brand identity, and the company must take a leading role in transitioning to renewable energy sources.

The tech industry's reliance on natural gas power plants is a growing concern, and companies like Meta must prioritize renewable energy sources and reduce their carbon footprint.