A leading technology company might be shifting away from a clean-energy target in Virginia as it expands data centers. Virginia hosts several of the company’s facilities, and more are planned, potentially conflicting with the state’s climate commitments. Virginia is known as the data center capital of the world.
Microsoft is considering ending its 24/7 clean energy goal, which aims for 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2030.
“It’s always easier to work in partnership,” said Tim Cywinski, communications director for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club. “This is Microsoft telling us that they aren’t.”
In Virginia, Microsoft’s Azure cloud services operate a data center hub in Mecklenburg County, with over 20 facilities as per datacentermap.com.
Additionally, Microsoft has data centers in Northern Virginia, covering Loudoun County near Dulles International Airport, as well as Prince William and Fairfax counties. More centers are planned for Mecklenburg and Prince William, potentially tripling its workforce in the state to 2,042 by year-end.
Amazon holds the largest data center presence in Virginia, followed by Microsoft and Google, which is also expanding. Meta operates a center outside Richmond.
Microsoft’s potential policy change comes amid an administrative pushback against clean energy investments. Despite climate change impacts, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta plan to use fossil-fuel plants to power data warehouses.
Virginia emitted 81 million metric tons of carbon in 2024, a reduction from 85 metric tons in 2020 when the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) was enacted to decarbonize the state by mid-century. However, the goal is now uncertain.
The VCEA incentivizes utilities to use renewable energy and retire fossil fuels, but allows new fossil plants if power shortages loom.
By 2030, Virginia might rank 30th nationally in power-related emissions with 57 million metric tons of carbon. Research indicates data center demand could increase emissions by 28%, partly due to coal-fired generation in Northern Virginia.
Data center growth contrasts with VCEA aims, with some Republican advocacy to abandon the law. Lt. Governor Ghazala Hashmi, a Democrat, noted data center development conflicts with VCEA goals.
“The greatest threat to our clean energy goals is the growing energy demands,” Hashmi said at the Virginia Clean Energy Summit.
Microsoft has previously engaged in solar and energy storage projects in Virginia. In 2020, Microsoft stated emissions needed reduction to avoid climate catastrophe.
However, Microsoft supported new gas proposals from Dominion Energy despite VCEA’s 2045 deadline for retiring carbon sources. In 2023, Dominion sourced 36% of electricity from natural gas, calling for six gigawatts of new gas generation amidst data center expansion.
Other tech giants like Google have invested in battery storage projects. Microsoft acknowledges the challenges with its clean energy goals and emphasizes the importance of reviewing approaches as policies and markets evolve.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org