Meta continues to reinforce its commitment to sustainability with a new agreement aimed at powering its operations with 100% renewable energy. This agreement with Engie North America is the second of its kind in recent months and forms part of the company’s broader push towards achieving net-zero emissions. The partnership focuses on solar energy, marking another significant step in Meta’s strategy to transition to clean power sources for its data centers.
What is the Environmental Attributes Purchase Agreement (EAPA)?
Meta has entered into an Environmental Attributes Purchase Agreement (EAPA) with Engie North America to secure solar energy from the upcoming Anson 2 solar project in Jones County, Texas. Under the terms of this agreement, Meta will purchase 100% of the facility’s power output and the associated environmental credits. This new solar energy project will significantly contribute to Meta’s goal of powering its operations with renewable energy.
Details of the Anson 2 Solar Project
The Anson 2 solar project, located northwest of Abilene in Jones County, Texas, is a 200MW solar facility that will be developed and operated by Engie North America. Expected to begin operations in late 2025, the project will add to Engie’s growing clean energy portfolio, which is projected to reach 8GW in the U.S. once Anson 2 is operational. Engie’s investment in this project highlights the company’s commitment to expanding renewable energy capacity and supporting corporate clients like Meta in their renewable energy transition.
Meta’s Growing Clean Energy Footprint
This agreement marks Meta’s second partnership with Engie in recent months. In November 2024, the two companies signed an agreement for Engie to supply Meta with the total energy output from the 260MW Sypert Branch solar project in Milam County, Texas. Located approximately 10 miles from Meta’s data center in Temple, this project is also set to begin operations in late 2025. Together, these agreements demonstrate Meta’s continued commitment to securing substantial renewable energy sources for its U.S.-based data centers.
Meta’s Renewable Energy Procurement Milestones
With these new agreements, Meta has now procured more than 12GW of renewable energy to support its data center operations. The company has also signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in several other states, including Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, and Louisiana, totaling over 1.2GW in contracted power. These steps underscore Meta’s proactive approach to meeting its sustainability targets and ensuring a reliable, clean energy supply for its rapidly expanding global infrastructure.
Engie’s Role in Advancing Renewable Energy for Data Centers
Engie has been instrumental in supporting the renewable energy needs of major tech companies, particularly in the data center sector. In addition to its agreements with Meta, Engie has also signed a PPA with Google for its Chillingham solar project in Bell County, Texas. Engie’s capacity to deliver large-scale renewable energy solutions makes it a key partner for companies in the data center industry, where demand for sustainable power sources continues to rise.
Texas: A Hub for Renewable Energy and Data Centers
Texas has increasingly become a hotspot for renewable energy development, particularly in wind and solar power. In 2023, the state ranked first in wind energy generation and second in solar, with generation capacities of 199,836GWh and 31,739GWh, respectively. This growth in renewable energy has made Texas an attractive market for data center operators, including Meta, who are looking to power their operations with reliable and affordable clean energy.
FAQ Section
1. What is an Environmental Attributes Purchase Agreement (EAPA)?
An EAPA is an agreement where a company purchases all the power output and associated environmental attributes (such as renewable energy credits) from a renewable energy project. This allows the buyer to claim the environmental benefits of the energy produced.
2. Why is Meta focusing on renewable energy for its data centers?
Meta is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving net-zero emissions. Powering its data centers with renewable energy is a key part of this strategy, as these facilities consume large amounts of energy.
3. What are the benefits of solar energy for data centers?
Solar energy offers a sustainable and cost-effective power source for data centers, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower energy costs, and support long-term environmental goals.
4. How does Meta’s solar energy procurement impact its sustainability goals?
By securing large amounts of renewable energy, Meta is on track to meet its ambitious sustainability targets, including a net-zero carbon footprint across its global operations.
5. What is Engie’s role in supporting data centers with renewable energy?
Engie provides clean, renewable energy to data centers through large-scale solar and wind projects, enabling tech companies to power their operations sustainably and meet their renewable energy commitments.
