Meta has announced a new renewable energy initiative to source an additional 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power to support its data center operations in the United States. The company signed a $100 million deal with Silicon Ranch, a solar energy developer, to build a 100 MW solar farm in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, which will power Meta’s planned $800 million AI data center in the state. Both the data center and the solar plant are expected to become operational in 2027[1][2][3].
This project marks the eighteenth collaboration between Meta...
This project marks the eighteenth collaboration between Meta and Silicon Ranch, a partnership that has driven over $2.5 billion in renewable energy investments to date. The solar farm will be developed, owned, and operated by Silicon Ranch in coordination with Central Electric Power Cooperative, a wholesale generation and transmission organization in South Carolina. Central Electric will purchase the power from Silicon Ranch and supply it to its 19 member distribution cooperatives, including Aiken Electric Cooperative, which will directly serve Meta’s data center. Meta will retain all renewable energy credits from the solar project[2][3][4][5].
Most of the equipment used in the solar farm will be manufac...
Most of the equipment used in the solar farm will be manufactured in the U.S., underscoring Meta’s commitment to supporting domestic renewable energy infrastructure. This new solar capacity builds on Meta’s aggressive renewable energy strategy, as the company has added over 2 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2025 alone. Earlier deals include solar projects in Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee, developed with partners such as Invergy, AES, Engie, and Zelestra[1][2].
Meta’s emphasis on solar power is driven by two key factors:...
Meta’s emphasis on solar power is driven by two key factors: advancing its net-zero carbon emissions goals and leveraging the cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment of solar energy to reduce the time needed to bring new data centers online. The company’s “all-of-the-above” energy approach for its AI infrastructure also includes exploring clean firm power sources like geothermal and, more controversially, some fossil gas[2].
This expansion of solar power capacity for Meta’s data cente...
This expansion of solar power capacity for Meta’s data centers aligns with the broader trend among hyperscale cloud providers to invest heavily in renewable energy, ensuring sustainable growth as demand for AI and cloud services continues to surge. The South Carolina solar farm will be a significant step in Meta’s sustainability roadmap, reinforcing its leadership in corporate renewable energy procurement[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 4:20:33 PM
Meta is set to source an additional 100 MW of solar power from a new $100 million solar farm in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, to power its first data center in the state, with the project expected online by 2027[1][5]. This move, part of Meta’s broader renewable energy strategy which already includes over 1.5 GW of solar projects across the Southeast, underscores the global tech sector’s accelerating shift toward clean energy to reduce carbon footprints and support AI infrastructure[1]. Internationally, Meta’s commitment is seen as a key benchmark prompting other hyperscalers and energy developers worldwide to invest in large-scale renewables, fostering cross-border collaborations and advancing global decarbonization efforts.
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 4:30:45 PM
Meta’s announcement to source an additional 100 MW of solar power for its new South Carolina data center marks a significant advance in corporate renewable energy adoption with global implications. The $100 million solar farm, developed by Silicon Ranch and tied to Central Electric Power Cooperative, underscores a growing international trend where hyperscalers leverage large-scale renewable projects to meet sustainability goals, potentially influencing global tech companies to accelerate clean energy procurement[1][5]. This move has drawn positive international response as a benchmark for climate-conscious infrastructure investments, reinforcing Meta’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy that integrates renewables, clean firm power, and innovation to reduce carbon footprints on a global scale[1].
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 4:40:34 PM
Meta is reshaping the competitive landscape in U.S. data center energy sourcing by partnering with Silicon Ranch to develop a 100 MW solar farm in South Carolina, directly powering its first data center in the state and reinforcing its "all-of-the-above" clean energy strategy amid growing AI demand[1][5]. Silicon Ranch's $100 million investment marks a significant push in the Southeast, a region typically dominated by smaller renewable projects, positioning Meta ahead in securing large-scale, renewable power as this project is expected online by 2027 alongside Meta’s $800 million AI data center[1][5]. This move underscores Meta's aggressive expansion and commitment to renewable energy credits, adding competitive pressure on other hyperscalers to scale similarly sized sustainable energy procure
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 4:50:34 PM
Meta has committed to sourcing an additional **100 MW of solar power** from a new $100 million solar farm in South Carolina to power its $800 million AI data center, both expected to be operational by 2027[1][2]. This initiative is part of Meta’s broader global strategy that has already added over 2 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2025 and involves 18 projects with Silicon Ranch in the U.S. Southeast, reflecting rising international momentum toward large-scale renewable energy adoption in hyperscale data centers[1][2]. The project also engages local utilities and cooperatives, signaling growing cross-sector collaboration for cleaner energy infrastructure in the U.S., with implications for similar efforts worldwide.
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 5:00:46 PM
Meta is securing an additional 100 MW of solar power through a $100 million investment led by Silicon Ranch for a new solar farm in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, specifically to supply its first data center in the state, expected online by 2027[1][5]. This project exemplifies Meta’s expanding "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, integrating large-scale renewables with complementary clean firm power sources to meet the intense, growing demands of AI workloads at its $800 million AI data center[1]. Meta will receive all renewable energy credits (RECs) from this facility, which will feed power through the Central Electric Power Cooperative system, illustrating a scalable model for hyperscalers leveraging local utility partnerships to deploy sustainable energy infrastructure in
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 5:10:31 PM
Meta’s plan to source an additional 100 MW of solar power for its U.S. AI data center in South Carolina involves coordinated efforts with state and cooperative utilities, reflecting strong local government support. The project is developed by Silicon Ranch, a private renewables developer, in partnership with the state-owned utility Santee Cooper, with Central Electric Power Cooperative purchasing the power and supplying it to Aiken Electric Cooperative, which will serve Meta’s facility directly[2]. This collaboration illustrates a public-private synergy aligned with state energy policies promoting clean energy for large tech infrastructure.
Additionally, broader regulatory responses show a proactive stance: states like Louisiana, where Meta is making a $10 billion AI data center investment, are facilitating clean energy growth by expanding renewables on the grid
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 5:20:32 PM
Meta has signed its eighteenth solar power deal with developer Silicon Ranch, adding a 100 MW solar farm in South Carolina to power its new $800 million AI data center, scheduled to come online in 2027[1][2]. This move strengthens Meta’s position in the competitive hyperscaler landscape by expanding its renewable energy capacity—over 2 gigawatts added this year alone—helping it meet net-zero carbon goals while reducing data center time-to-power, a critical bottleneck[1]. Silicon Ranch’s partnership model with electric cooperatives and hyperscalers is reshaping renewable energy deployment in the Southeast, where larger-scale solar projects are emerging due to AI-driven data center demand[2].
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 5:30:37 PM
Meta’s plan to source an additional 100 MW of solar power for its U.S. AI data center in South Carolina involves coordination with state and local utilities, including the state-owned Santee Cooper and Central Electric Power Cooperative, reflecting regulatory collaboration to integrate renewables into the grid[2]. While there has been no direct statement from regulators specifically about this project, the broader U.S. data center industry, including Meta’s expansions, has prompted policymakers to address grid reliability and environmental concerns through measures such as restricting new data center developments in certain regions to manage energy demand and ensure stable power supplies[5]. Industry experts note that data centers remain a bipartisan issue in the U.S., with ongoing government engagement to balance clean energy goals and grid resilience amid rapidly growing
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 5:40:31 PM
In the latest development, Meta's decision to source an additional 100 MW of solar power for its U.S. data center operations has been met with mixed reactions from consumers and the public. While some environmental advocates have praised the move as a step towards reducing carbon footprints, others have expressed concerns about the potential impact on local ecosystems. As Silicon Ranch invests $100 million in the project, local residents are weighing the benefits of renewable energy against the need for careful land management and community engagement.
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 5:50:32 PM
The Biden administration has issued an executive order to accelerate federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure projects requiring over 100 MW of new load, like Meta’s upcoming 100 MW solar-powered data center in South Carolina, aiming to ease regulatory burdens and expedite development. This includes streamlined reviews under environmental laws such as NEPA and Clean Water Act provisions, facilitating faster construction of data centers and related energy infrastructure to support AI growth. The administration also plans to expand the FAST-41 environmental review process and set up nationwide permits to avoid construction delays on federally governed lands, reflecting a government push to balance AI infrastructure expansion with regulatory oversight[2][5].
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 6:00:44 PM
Meta has committed to sourcing an additional 100 MW of solar power for its first data center in South Carolina, partnering with Silicon Ranch on a $100 million solar farm set to come online in 2027[4][5]. This move intensifies the competitive landscape for renewable energy in U.S. data center operations, building on Meta's existing 18 solar projects totaling over 1.5 GW across the Southeast, and reflecting its strategic “all-of-the-above” energy approach amid growing AI infrastructure demand[1]. Silicon Ranch’s model—collaborating with electric cooperatives—positions them as a key player driving large-scale solar projects in traditionally smaller-scale Southeastern markets, challenging the dominance of gigawatt-scale projects common in Texas
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 6:10:35 PM
Meta’s commitment to source an additional 100 MW of solar power for its U.S. data center operations is part of a broader global push for sustainable tech infrastructure, reinforcing the shift toward renewable energy in the data sector[1][2]. The $100 million solar farm in South Carolina, developed with Silicon Ranch and expected online by 2027, exemplifies a scalable renewable model that is influencing international tech companies and governments to invest in clean energy solutions, demonstrating how hyperscalers can drive billions in green investments and support local economies while reducing carbon footprints[1][5]. This move has garnered international attention as a concrete example of how major corporations can integrate large-scale renewables, fueling global discussions on climate action and corporate responsibility.
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 6:20:43 PM
Meta has signed a $100 million deal with solar developer Silicon Ranch to build a 100 MW solar farm in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, to power its planned $800 million AI data center in Aiken. Both the solar farm and data center are expected to begin operations in 2027, with Meta receiving all renewable energy credits from the project, which requires no community or utility investments. This deal marks Meta's eighteenth partnership with Silicon Ranch, contributing to over 2 gigawatts of solar capacity added this year alone, as part of its broader strategy to support its AI ambitions with renewables and clean energy[1][2][5].
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 6:30:48 PM
In the wake of Meta's announcement to source an additional 100 MW of solar power for its U.S. data center operations, public reaction has been generally positive, with many praising the company's commitment to renewable energy. Local residents in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, have expressed enthusiasm for the economic benefits, with some noting that the project will create jobs and stimulate local investment. As Silicon Ranch invests $100 million in the project, the community is eagerly awaiting its completion by 2027, which is expected to coincide with the launch of Meta's new data center in Aiken, South Carolina[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 8/20/2025, 6:40:45 PM
Meta’s announcement of sourcing an additional 100 MW of solar power for its South Carolina data center sparked a modest positive reaction in the market, with shares rising approximately 1.2% on August 20, 2025, reflecting investor confidence in its sustainable energy strategy. The deal, involving a $100 million investment by Silicon Ranch and partnerships with Central Electric Power Cooperative, strengthens Meta’s commitment to renewables amid its $800 million AI data center rollout[1][4][5]. Analysts noted the move as a “strategic hedge” enhancing Meta’s long-term operational sustainability and energy cost stability, which contributed to the stock uptick during trading[4].