Dive Brief:
- Meta has signed two long-term energy agreements with Spanish energy developer Solarpack to support its growing operations in Indiana, the companies announced last week.
- The newly-inked Environmental Attribute Purchase Agreements will support the construction of two solar projects in the Hoosier State that are estimated to generate 210 megawatts of renewable energy, according to the release.
- Meta will purchase the output to back its operations in the state, including its recently announced $800 million data center in southern Indiana, according to the agreement. The deal will also help the state, which sources 10% of its energy from renewables, accelerate its journey to a carbon-free status.
Dive Insight:
Meta’s latest venture builds on its decarbonization goals, which include reaching net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2030. The social media and technology conglomerate said it achieved net-zero status across its own global operations in 2020 — a feat it attained by reducing emissions by 94%, compared to a 2017 baseline, which it said was “primarily” done by equipping its data centers and offices with 100% renewable energy.
Last year, Meta said it slashed its carbon footprint by more than 12.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2018 with its renewable energy commitments. Further, the Menlo Park, California-based company said it contracted 10,000 MW of renewable energy across six countries as of 2023. Meta said this figure made it “one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy in the world.”
The tech giant — which owns platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp — unveiled plans to construct a data center in Jeffersonville, Indiana in January. The nearly 700,000 square foot facility, which is expected to be operational by 2026, will be the company’s 18th in the U.S. and 22nd in the world. Meta said the center would provide employment for over 1,250 people during peak construction periods, in addition to adding 100 operational jobs in the region.
In the same announcement, the company said its Jeffersonville data center would operate on 100% renewable energy.
“We are excited to both support Meta’s decarbonization goals and reach this major milestone for Solarpack in the United States, a key growth market for us,” Solarpack’s CEO Leo Moreno said in the May 10 release announcing the deal.
