Meta leaves the RE100 green energy alliance

The rapid development of AI technologies is forcing major tech giants to rethink their energy strategies. After a decade of membership, the Meta corporation, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has left the international RE100 initiative, which aims to transition to 100 percent renewable energy sources. This decision comes at a time when the company is sharply increasing its use of natural gas to power its data centers. This was reported by Techcrunch.com reports .

According to TechCrunch, the severance of ties between Meta and RE100 was mutual. The alliance, coordinated by the British non-profit Climate Group, brings together over 400 major companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Meta's departure highlights the gap between its environmental sustainability promises and its real-world actions.

Increasing demand for natural gas

Over the past year, Meta has financed the construction of more than a dozen natural gas power plants. As part of the company's Hyperion data center project in Louisiana, 10 gas plants are planned, which will generate a total of 7.5 GW of electricity. For comparison, this amount is more than the power consumed by the entire U.S. state of South Dakota. Additionally, a 200 MW gas project has been launched in Ohio.

Experts believe that this sharp turn may have been caused by the tightening of RE100's reporting procedures. Under the updated rules, companies are required to provide more transparent and precise data on achieving renewable energy goals. Meta, for its part, had promised to switch entirely to green energy by 2020, but the AI race has altered these plans.

Environmental consequences and concerns

Although natural gas is considered a cleaner fuel than coal, it still causes significant environmental damage. According to studies, a 1 GW data center powered solely by gas emits hundreds of tons of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and harmful particulates into the air annually. These substances are proven to negatively affect human health, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

For now, Meta representatives insist that the company remains committed to its 100 percent clean and renewable energy goals. However, against the backdrop of large-scale gas plant construction, these statements raise many questions. For countries like Uzbekistan, which are developing digital economies and data centers, the experience of these global giants demonstrates the importance of maintaining a balance between energy security and environmental safety.