Meta is planning to establish an enormous AI data center in Louisiana, prompting the local utility provider to propose the construction of three new gas-fired power plants to meet the anticipated energy demands. This development has led community advocates and lawmakers to seek clarification from Meta regarding its plans to address pollution associated with the center’s energy consumption.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who holds a significant position on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, reached out to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg with a letter on Wednesday. In it, he requested detailed information about the energy usage of the new facility and the greenhouse gas emissions it will produce. His correspondence criticized the decision to power the data center with gas, stating that it contradicts Meta’s climate commitments.
The demand for electricity is surging as technology companies race to develop data centers for AI operations. Entergy, the local utility provider, suggests that meeting this demand through new gas infrastructure could adversely affect both the environment and the health of the local population.
“We urgently need corporate responsibility”
Senator Whitehouse expressed to Technology News that Meta’s regression from its climate goals could lead to extensive economic repercussions, emphasizing a pressing need for accountability from corporations.
In 2020, Meta committed to achieving net-zero emissions across its operations, supply chain, and the use of its products by 2030. However, its recent sustainability report indicates an increase in the company’s carbon footprint, coinciding with a significant focus on AI.
To mitigate its emissions, Meta has attempted to align its electricity needs with renewable energy purchases. This approach, commonly adopted by major corporations, aims to offset environmental impacts, but advocates worry it still imposes local pollution on communities while prioritizing fossil fuel reliance in the face of increasing electricity demands from AI technologies.
The implications of this issue are becoming evident in Richland Parish, Louisiana, where Meta plans to invest $10 billion into its largest data center to date, set to cover an area equivalent to 70 football fields. However, the project’s feasibility hinges on ensuring a sufficient electricity supply, a challenge Meta is addressing in collaboration with Entergy, which is looking to establish three new gas plants capable of generating 2,260 megawatts.
Community advocates have raised concerns regarding the transparency of Meta’s plans, expressing a need for more public understanding of the potential impacts on the local power grid. The Louisiana-based Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Union of Concerned Scientists have filed a motion urging the inclusion of Meta in regulatory discussions concerning the planned gas plants. This would require the company to reveal additional details, with hearings on the motion scheduled for Monday.
Logan Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy, articulated the complexities of understanding whether such a facility would benefit or harm the community without clarity on implications for the electrical grid, utility costs, and water resources.
Analysts predict that the increasing demand for electricity from data centers could lead to higher utility costs across the United States. In December, Meta announced its annual contribution of $1 million to Entergy’s program aimed at helping vulnerable populations manage their energy expenses. The company has also pledged to implement measures that would ensure its water usage will be less than the amount it restores.
Senator Whitehouse’s correspondence requests answers from Meta by May 28th, including inquiries about the data center’s energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the rationale for opting for gas-fired power plants instead of renewable energy sources. The senator is also pushing for an explanation of how the project aligns with Meta’s climate targets for 2030.
Meta asserts it will maintain its commitment to renewable energy, planning to fund 1,500 megawatts of new solar and battery projects in Louisiana. Additionally, the company intends to finance technology that captures carbon emissions at at least one of its power plants. Senator Whitehouse is seeking details on the investment amount and the anticipated carbon capture metrics, noting that deploying carbon capture technology often involves high costs.
In response to the senator’s inquiry, Meta spokesperson Ashley Settle expressed eagerness to provide the requested information, emphasizing the need for diverse energy solutions to support the company’s AI projects.
Entergy has yet to respond to questions from Technology News. The utility company has expressed its commitment to achieving 50 percent carbon-free generating capacity by 2030, though it maintains that gas remains the most economical option for meeting the continuous electricity needs of a large facility such as Meta’s.
