Meta Buys Nearly 1GW Solar for AI

Meta signed three U.S. solar deals this week that total nearly 1 gigawatt of capacity as the company moves to power its data centers and offset the rising energy demand from its AI operations. The purchases raise Meta’s solar commitments to more than 3 GW this year, reflecting how inexpensive and fast-to-build solar has become a preferred option for hyperscalers expanding data center fleets.

Two agreements in Louisiana cover the environmental attributes of a combined 385 megawatts of generation and are expected to be completed two years from now. Earlier in the week Meta announced a separate 600 MW purchase from a large solar farm near Lubbock, Texas; that project is slated to start commercial operations in 2027. The Texas plant will feed the local grid rather than tie directly to Meta facilities, effectively offsetting data-center electricity use.

The article notes critics’ concerns about environmental attribute certificates (EACs, or RECs), which Meta buys in some deals: experts say EACs can obscure a company’s true carbon footprint and question whether they still spur additional renewable buildouts. If firms want to truly offset new AI-driven electricity demand, experts argue they should support new renewable capacity rather than rely exclusively on certificates.