Meta Advances Geothermal Energy Use for US Data Centers

Meta Platforms Inc., the company behind Facebook, has entered a groundbreaking deal with Sage Geosystems to harness geothermal energy for powering its U.S. data centers. Announced at a recent U.S. Department of Energy event, this initiative is part of Meta’s strategy to meet the growing power demands of its data-intensive operations, including its expansion into artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Source: WCCO – CBS Minnesota/YouTube

The agreement targets the first phase of a 150-megawatt geothermal project to be operational by 2027. Although the exact location is yet to be finalized, it will be somewhere east of the Rocky Mountains. This project marks a significant step in increasing the deployment of geothermal energy across the U.S., which is currently a minimal part of the nation’s energy mix.

Geothermal energy, which generates power and heat by tapping into the Earth’s internal heat, is considered a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The capacity planned by Meta is substantial enough to power approximately 38,000 homes.

This move comes in response to President Joe Biden’s call for major tech firms to invest in renewable energy to Support their soaring electricity needs. The rapid adoption of high-power-consuming technologies like generative AI by companies like Meta has escalated these demands, posing challenges to Biden’s goal of decarbonizing the U.S. power sector by 2035.

Houston-based Sage Geosystems, a startup developing advanced geothermal technology, claims its approach can be applied more broadly than traditional methods, which rely on natural underground hot water reservoirs. This technology has attracted backing from major oil and gas companies like Chesapeake Energy and Nabors Industries, along with venture capital firms.

Meta’s spokesperson indicated that the energy from Sage would contribute to the power grid, providing more general Support rather than directly powering specific data centers. This strategy is part of Meta’s broader effort to revamp its infrastructure, accommodating the heavy electrical demands of AI technologies. The company has been proactive in adapting its data centers to better Support AI-oriented hardware, leading to significant rises in its projected capital expenditures, which are expected to reach between $37 billion and $40 billion in 2024.

As Meta forges ahead with its AI initiatives, the integration of geothermal energy into its operations highlights a pivotal shift towards more sustainable practices within the tech industry.

Please sign this petition to Demand Accountability for the Climate Deniers in Congress!

Related Content:

• How Geothermal Heating and Cooling is Being Used in Residential Buildings
• The Hidden Environmental Cost of AI and Data Centers
• Meta Uses AI Technology to Create Sustainable Concrete to Reduce Its Data Center’s Carbon Footprint
• Climate Club: Facebook Teams Up With New Tool To Help Employees Track Their Emissions
• Google and Facebook Pledge $925 Million to Capture Carbon Pollution

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!