Meta has signed a renewable energy deal in Texas.
The social media firm this week signed an Environmental Attribute Purchase Agreement (EAPA) with Cypress Creek Renewables to support the construction of a 505MW solar facility in Texas.
Hanson Solar will be owned and operated by Cypress Creek and will be located in Coleman County, Texas.
Construction of the project is scheduled to begin later this year, with operations expected to commence in 2027.
"We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Meta and provide them with the clean energy needed to support their data center operations and sustainability goals," Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek Renewables, said.
Once operational, the project will deliver electricity directly to the ERCOT grid. Meta claims the agreement will support its goal to match its operations with 100 percent clean and renewable energy.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Cypress Creek Renewables to bring solar energy to the grid in Texas – and support our operations in the region with clean and renewable energy," said Urvi Parekh, head of global energy at Meta.
Unlike a Power Purchase Agreement, an EAPA does not involve purchasing electricity itself; instead, it involves purchasing its environmental benefits through renewable energy credits, with the power fed directly into the grid. EAPAs are often used as a means to support the construction of renewable energy assets.
However, critics contend that EAPAs lack effectiveness, transparency, and impact, leading some to conclude that they are merely another form of greenwashing.
Meta has signed several EAPAs over the past 12 months in an attempt to decarbonize its value chain.
In January, it signed four EAPAs with Spanish renewable energy developer Zelestra to facilitate the construction of four solar projects in Texas. The projects, located in Hopkins, Lamar, Lampasas, and Henderson Counties, have a combined capacity of 595MWac (720MWdc).
Before this, in November, Meta signed an EAPA with Engie North America for 260MW from Engie’s Sypert Branch solar project in Milam County, Texas. The 260MW project, located approximately 10 miles from Meta’s data center in Temple, is expected to commence operations in late 2025.
Finally, in January last year, it signed an EAPA with Adapture Renewables in Arkansas and Illinois, which is tied to three solar projects.
Cypress Creek is a US-based renewable energy developer and independent power producer. It has commercialized 12GW of solar projects and has a more than 20GW solar and storage pipeline.
