Meta Acquires Entire Output of a New $900 Million Solar Venture for Powering American Data Centers
Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has partnered with Enbridge, an Alberta-based energy company, on a major renewable energy project in Texas. The project, named the Clear Fork solar facility, is a 600 megawatt utility-scale solar plant located near San Antonio, Texas.
Enbridge has made a final investment decision to invest approximately $900 million in the project, which is currently under construction. The solar facility is expected to be completed and enter service by the summer of 2027.
Meta has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for 100% of the renewable energy output of Clear Fork to support the operations of its data centers in Texas with clean electricity. This partnership reflects Meta's commitment to powering its infrastructure with renewable energy sources.
Urvi Parekh, Head of Global Energy at Meta, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Enbridge for the Clear Fork project. The project demonstrates the growing demand for renewable power across North America, as highlighted by Enbridge.
Key details include:
- Capacity: 600 MW solar generation
- Location: Near San Antonio, Texas
- Project cost: Approximately $900 million
- Timeline: Construction underway, commercial operation expected summer 2027
- Meta's role: Off-taker of 100% of the renewable power through a long-term contract
- Developer: Enbridge, a Canadian energy company with a large renewables portfolio
- Impact: Supports Meta’s data center operations with 100% clean energy, advancing corporate sustainability goals
Meta has also set a target to reach net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2030, and achieved its goal to meet 100% of its operational energy needs with renewable sources in 2020. The Clear Fork project is one of several recent Texas-based clean energy deals by Meta, as the company continues to invest in renewable energy to power its growing operations.
[1] Enbridge Investors Relations. (2022). Clear Fork Solar Project. Retrieved from https://investor.enbridge.com/projects/clear-fork-solar-project/ [2] Meta Newsroom. (2022). Meta to power data centers in Texas with 100% renewable energy from new 600 MW solar facility. Retrieved from https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2022/03/meta-to-power-data-centers-in-texas-with-100-renewable-energy-from-new-600-mw-solar-facility/ [3] Enbridge Newsroom. (2022). Enbridge announces final investment decision for Clear Fork Solar Project. Retrieved from https://www.enbridge.com/news-and-media/news-releases/enbridge-announces-final-investment-decision-for-clear-fork-solar-project [4] Meta Newsroom. (2022). Meta's 2021 Sustainability Report. Retrieved from https://sustainability.fb.com/2021-report/ [5] Meta Newsroom. (2021). Meta sets ambitious goal to reach net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2030. Retrieved from https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2021/09/meta-sets-ambitious-goal-to-reach-net-zero-emissions-across-its-value-chain-by-2030/
- Meta has partnered with Enbridge on a significant renewable energy project, investing in a $900 million, 600 MW utility-scale solar plant near San Antonio, Texas, to support its data center operations with clean electricity, demonstrating the company's commitment to powering its infrastructure with renewable energy sources.
- This partnership with Enbridge is part of Meta's larger strategy to achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2030, which included meeting 100% of its operational energy needs with renewable sources in 2020, as confirmed in the 2021 Sustainability Report.
