Meta and EDP Renewables Forge New Solar Alliance in Arkansas
Meta and EDP Renewables North America are collaborating once again to harness clean energy, striking a significant agreement to power a new solar project. This partnership highlights the ongoing trend of tech giants investing in renewable energy to sustain their massive data centers.
Through a long-term power purchase agreement, the two companies are set to develop the Cypress Knee Solar project, a planned 250-megawatt solar energy facility located in Chicot County, Arkansas. This marks their third renewable energy endeavor together, bringing their total joint energy procurement to 545 MW.
Construction for Cypress Knee Solar is slated to begin soon, with operations potentially commencing as early as next year, although commercial operations are officially anticipated by 2028. The project promises to inject over $25 million into Chicot County’s economy via an Industrial Revenue Bond agreement over its 30-year lifespan.
Meta’s Commitment to Renewable Energy
Meta’s strategy to offset its electricity consumption with renewable energy continues to expand, as the company aims to match 100% of its annual electricity usage with sustainable sources. In a joint statement, the companies noted,
“The agreement supports Meta’s efforts to add new generation to the grid as it continues to match 100% of its annual electricity use with new clean and renewable energy.”
The tech giant has consistently turned to long-term power purchase agreements to secure energy for its infrastructure needs, a trend highlighted by their recent collaboration with NextEra Energy, which involves an impressive 2.1 gigawatts of renewable capacity.
This Arkansas project is part of Meta’s broader energy strategy, complementing investments in the $27 billion Hyperion data center located in Richland Parish, Louisiana.
Linking Solar Growth with Data Center Demands
Chicot County, the site for Cypress Knee Solar, is strategically positioned near rapidly growing areas in energy demand driven by data center expansions. For instance, Entergy Louisiana has agreed to supply Meta’s Hyperion data center with 5.2 GW of natural gas capacity.
As tech companies like Meta intensify their energy procurement strategies, they are increasingly pairing renewable projects with conventional sources to support AI and cloud computing infrastructure. This has fueled partnerships between tech firms and renewable developers, aligning with EDP Renewables’ mission to expand its solar portfolio in the U.S.
In addition to addressing energy demands, the solar development in Arkansas is poised to benefit local communities through increased tax revenues and infrastructure development.
This coverage was initially reported by Diana DiGangi, Reporter in Utility Dive.
Original Story at www.constructionowners.com