Meta Doubles Down on Renewable Energy with Major Texas Solar Deal
In a significant move to bolster its renewable energy commitments, Meta has inked a new power purchase agreement (PPA) with clean energy developer Zelestra for the upcoming Skull Creek Solar Plant in Texas. This deal deepens an existing partnership aimed at powering the tech giant's vast operations entirely with renewable sources.
The Skull Creek facility, with a capacity of 176MWdc, is the latest addition to a collaborative portfolio of seven U.S. solar projects totaling approximately 1.2 gigawatts-direct current (GWdc). All projects under this partnership are slated to be operational by 2028. Construction on two projects began late last year, with the remainder, including Skull Creek, breaking ground this year.
This expansion comes as Meta races to meet its ambitious 100% renewable energy target for its global operations, a goal shared by many tech peers facing increasing scrutiny over their carbon footprints. The partnership's first fruit, the 81MWdc Jasper County Solar Project in Indiana, recently commenced operations.
"Our collaboration with Meta is accelerating the deployment of clean energy at scale across the United States," said Phil North, CEO of Zelestra US. "The commencement of Jasper County, the progress on other sites, and this new agreement for Skull Creek mark pivotal steps in bringing nearly 1.2GWdc of new solar power online."
Zelestra, which is developing a 15GW portfolio of clean energy projects, positions itself as a specialist for hyperscalers and large corporations. The company also recently secured a long-term PPA with Microsoft for solar projects in Spain with a combined capacity of 95.7 megawatts.
Industry Reaction:
"This is exactly the type of large-scale, corporate-led investment the grid needs," said David Chen, an energy analyst at GreenPath Advisors. "It provides long-term demand certainty for developers, which is crucial for financing and building these projects."
"While commendable, let's not pretend a single PPA solves the problem," countered Maya Rodriguez, founder of the climate advocacy group Clean Grid Now. "These tech giants' energy appetites are still growing exponentially. They're patching a leak with a solar panel while the pipe is bursting. Where's the equivalent investment in grid modernization and storage to actually integrate all this power? It feels more like green branding than a systemic shift."
"It's a solid, predictable business move," noted Arjun Patel, a portfolio manager focused on infrastructure. "PPAs lock in energy costs for decades, hedging against volatility. For Meta, it's both a sustainability and a financial stability play."
This report is based on information initially published by Power Technology. The content is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice.