Meta to harness solar energy for powering Texas data centers, planning a 600MW solar power plant
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025, has created a significant impact on the renewable energy sector. Despite Meta's ambitious renewable procurement commitments, such as the purchase of power from the Clear Fork solar plant in Texas, the Act poses a substantial regulatory and financial barrier to accelerating wind and solar projects.
Meta recently announced a deal to purchase 100% of the power generated by the Clear Fork solar plant, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed and enter service in the summer of 2027. The tech giant has invested heavily in this project, with Enbridge, the energy developer behind the plant, having invested $900 million to complete the 600 megawatt facility.
Urvi Parekh, Meta's Head of Global Energy, expressed excitement about the partnership with Enbridge, stating that the company is thrilled to bring new renewable energy to Texas and help support its operations with 100% clean energy. Matthew Akman, Enbridge's executive vice president for corporate strategy and president of power, noted that the Clear Fork solar plant demonstrates the growing demand for renewable power across North America from blue-chip companies involved in technology and data center operations.
However, the OBBBA's provisions, such as the fast-tracking of the phaseout of tax credits for wind and solar projects placed in service after 2027, new foreign entity restrictions, and a revised domestic content regime, potentially increase manufacturing burdens and costs for wind and solar components. These changes may slow the scaling and financing of new wind and solar facilities, thereby delaying or increasing the cost of achieving clean energy targets.
Meta, one of the largest corporate purchasers of renewable energy, is not the only utility company facing these challenges. Analysts at Jefferies predict that utility companies with "renewables-heavy plans" may accelerate wind and solar projects to ensure they qualify for the altered investment tax credits.
In addition to solar, Meta has been actively investing in a variety of renewable and zero-emissions power generation technologies in the past year. This includes solar deals with multiple developers, its first two deals for next-generation geothermal energy, and explorations into nuclear energy. Meta aims to reach net-zero emissions across its operational portfolio since 2020, primarily by matching 100% of its data center usage with renewable energy.
The tech giant has also shown a commitment to nuclear energy, issuing a request for proposals to bring up to 4 gigawatts of new nuclear generation online by the early 2030s, citing a need to meet its "AI innovation and sustainability objectives."
Despite the challenges posed by the OBBBA, Meta remains committed to its renewable energy goals. As the company continues to invest in and pursue renewable energy solutions, it will be interesting to see how it navigates the changing regulatory landscape and achieves its ambitious clean energy targets.
[1] Source: Inside Climate News [2] Source: Utility Dive [3] Source: AWEA Wind Power Monthly Report
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has created challenges for Meta, a significant player in the renewable energy industry, as it poses regulatory and financial barriers to accelerating wind and solar projects, potentially increasing manufacturing burdens and costs for renewable components.
- In response to these challenges, utility companies, including Meta, may accelerate wind and solar projects to ensure they qualify for the altered investment tax credits, showing a continued focus on renewable energy in the face of evolving financial and regulatory obstacles.
- Beyond solar, Meta has been actively investing in a range of renewable and zero-emissions power generation technologies, such as geothermal and nuclear energy, demonstrating its commitment to reaching net-zero emissions and meeting its AI innovation and sustainability objectives.
