Meta has left the RE100 climate coalition after failing to meet its strict renewable energy requirements. The company’s rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has forced it to rely more on natural gas to power its data centers, undermining its previous clean energy commitments.
Why Meta walked away
The RE100, led by the UK nonprofit Climate Group, requires member companies to transition entirely to renewable energy. Meta joined the initiative in 2016 with a goal of running fully on green power by 2020. The Climate Group stated that Meta’s increasing reliance on natural gas made compliance with RE100’s standards impossible.
Meta’s exit puts it at odds with other tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, which remain in the coalition and continue pursuing 100% renewable energy targets. The company described its departure as a mutual agreement, though the shift in strategy is unmistakable.
AI’s growing energy appetite
To keep up with AI workloads, Meta has turned to natural gas, announcing 10 new energy projects in the past year alone. Seven of those are recently unveiled gas-powered plants, with a combined output expected to match the electricity consumption of South Dakota.
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This pivot reflects a broader tension in the tech industry: balancing the energy demands of AI with sustainability pledges. While companies often use renewable energy credits to offset fossil fuel use, Meta’s large-scale investments in gas make those claims harder to justify.
What this means for corporate climate goals
Meta’s departure highlights the gap between ambitious sustainability promises and the realities of scaling AI infrastructure. The company still insists it remains committed to clean energy, though its actions reflect a shift in its energy strategy.
For now, the company’s energy mix is moving toward greater reliance on natural gas. Its data centers, once powered largely by renewables, are now being supported by gas—a trend that could accelerate as AI demand grows.
Other tech firms in RE100 have managed to expand while keeping their renewable commitments. Meta’s exit raises doubts about whether it can do the same.
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