Facebook owner Meta has left global renewable energy initiative RE100 as it expands its use of natural gas to power energy-hungry AI data centres.
TechCrunch reported Meta’s departure ends a decade of membership, with the company and RE100 describing the split as mutual. Apple, Google and Microsoft remain among the initiative’s 444 members.
RE100, led by the Climate Group, supports companies working towards 100% renewable electricity. Meta had previously committed to running its entire operations on renewable power by 2020.
The exit comes as the company backs a major buildout of gas-fired generation to supply new data centres.
Meta has funded at least 12 natural gas plants over the past year, including a 200MW behind-the-meter facility in Ohio and 10 plants linked to its Hyperion data centre in Louisiana.
The Louisiana projects would provide 7.5GW of generation, more than the annual electricity use of South Dakota.
Meta said it remains committed to matching its data centre demand with 100% clean and renewable energy. However, gas-fired power still produces carbon emissions and air pollutants despite being less carbon intensive than coal.
The company can continue making renewable electricity claims through environmental attribute certificates, which allow clean power generated in one region to offset electricity used elsewhere.
Meta is not alone in turning to fossil fuels but its scale makes the shift significant. Its departure from RE100 also comes as the initiative tightens reporting requirements for companies claiming progress towards renewable electricity targets.
Microsoft is seeking to match electricity consumption with clean generation on an hourly basis, while Google has invested in renewable projects paired with battery storage. Both companies are also exploring natural gas as they race to secure reliable electricity for AI infrastructure.
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