Meta faces Democratic probe into plans to power a giant data center with gas
1 min read
Summary
Meta has come under fire in the US after the company’s plans to build a huge new AI data centre in Louisiana led to the local power company planning to build three new gas-fired power plants to service the data centre’s increased energy demands.
Now, environmental campaigners and lawmakers are questioning the company over the pollution that will be caused by the data centre.
In 2020, Meta made a commitment to reach net-zero emissions by the end of the decade, but the company’s carbon footprint has increased since then.
Meta has tried to offset its emissions by purchasing renewable energy projects, but this strategy increases local pollution and boosts fossil fuel use, rather than using renewable energy.
The company has been criticised for a lack of transparency over the potential impact on the local power grid, with a motion filed in March to force the company to disclose more information.