Meta Invests $100M in Solar Power Amid Political Backdrop of Renewable Energy Opposition

Meta Platforms (META) has committed $100 million to a 100-megawatt solar project with Silicon Ranch, powering its new data center in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The MOVE contrasts sharply with former President Donald Trump's recent pledge to block solar and wind energy initiatives, citing land use concerns and inflated electricity costs.

The tech giant's renewable energy push aligns with broader industry trends. Hyperscalers like Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Microsoft (MSFT) are collectively investing millions in alternative energy solutions, including nuclear and geothermal projects, to sustain their AI-driven data centers. Solar power emerges as a strategic choice—cost-effective and rapidly deployable—for meeting the insatiable energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Silicon Ranch will collaborate with Central Electric Power Cooperative to construct the solar farm, supporting Meta's $800 million South Carolina facility. The deal underscores a growing divergence between corporate sustainability goals and political rhetoric on energy policy.