Meta confirmed on July 24, 2026 that it has left RE100, a global corporate pledge to source 100% electricity from renewable sources, which it joined in 2016 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The Climate Group, which runs RE100, updated its technical criteria in July 2026 to exclude electricity from newly funded natural gas power plants, leading to Meta's withdrawal. A Climate Group spokesperson said, "After several in-depth conversations between Meta and Climate Group, Meta has withdrawn from the RE100 initiative, as it is no longer able to meet the technical criteria due to investments made in new gas power [1]."

Since mid-2025, Meta has committed to funding 10 new natural gas power plants to power data centers, including the Hyperion data center in Louisiana. These plants are expected to generate about 7.5 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power the entire state of South Dakota [1, 2, 3, 4]. Meta described its exit from RE100 as a mutual decision caused by these gas investments, which prevent compliance with the initiative's stricter rules [2, 4].

Meta states it continues to invest in renewable energy and aims to match its electricity use with 100% clean energy on an annualized basis since 2020, primarily through long-term renewable purchase agreements. A Meta spokesperson said, "Meta remains committed to matching its data center electricity usage with 100% clean and renewable energy [1, 2, 3, 4]." However, an analyst quoted by Recharge News said, "A 100 percent renewable claim becomes harder to defend" as natural gas investments grow [4].

Natural gas is considered a "bridge fuel" with lower emissions than coal but still produces methane leaks and air pollution, complicating sustainability claims [1, 3]. Other major tech companies such as Microsoft and Google also have deals involving natural gas electricity for their data centers [1, 3].

Meta joined RE100 in 2016 and was one of 444 members including Apple, Google, and Microsoft committed to 100% renewable electricity [1, 3, 4]. Its departure marks a shift as it balances data center power demands and sustainability pledges.

Meta's 10 natural gas plants and related power capacity projects remain underway to support growing data center energy needs. The Climate Group's updated criteria continue to evolve, shaping corporate renewable commitments.