Dive Brief:
- Meta has partnered with renewable energy firm Zelestra to purchase electricity from a solar plant in Freestone County, Texas. This agreement was announced on Tuesday.
- The Palmera Solar Plant, with a capacity of 180 MWdc, will enable Meta to support its commitment to renewable energy, providing 100% clean energy for its operations.
- This new agreement builds on their existing relationship, as Meta and Zelestra have Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) totaling about 1.4 GW of solar capacity across eight projects in the U.S., all expected to be operational by 2028.
Dive Insight:
Meta and Zelestra are collaborating on numerous projects nationwide. Zelestra recently started construction on the Skull Creek Solar Plant in Texas, which has a capacity of 176 MWdc, and the Reclamation Solar Project in Indiana, rated at 200 MWdc. Both projects are supported by Meta’s PPAs and are projected to create approximately 400 jobs during peak construction.
Once finished, these solar plants will complement Zelestra’s new 81 MWdc Jasper County Solar Project in Indiana, which recently began operations as the first project under the Meta-Zelestra partnership.
“Meta is dedicated to integrating more renewable energy into the grid, and our growing partnership with Zelestra is essential for achieving this,” said Amanda Yang, Meta’s head of clean and renewable energy. “These projects further our energy objectives while also creating jobs and providing lasting benefits to the communities involved.”
Meta, known for its platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, aims to reach net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2030. However, like many in the tech industry, it faces rising emissions linked to artificial intelligence usage and is actively investing in various clean energy and low-carbon solutions to address these challenges.