Meta,has committed $100 million to a 100-megawatt solar project in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. The collaboration with Silicon Ranch and Central Electric Power Cooperative will help power Meta's data center in Aiken, set to go live in 2027.

The solar farm will generate renewable energy for the grid, serving 19 electric cooperatives across the state. Meta will purchase the renewable energy credits associated with the project, furthering the company's carbon neutrality goals. These credits allow Meta to claim ownership of the environmental benefits of the clean energy produced.

Urvi Parekh, Meta's Head of Global Energy, expressed excitement about expanding their relationship with Silicon Ranch. "We're grateful to Central for supporting our energy goals in South Carolina and thrilled to continue our collaboration with Silicon Ranch, who shares our commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate."

The project will be located near Cordova, and Meta's involvement has been crucial for its financial feasibility. According to Senator Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, without Meta's backing, the project wouldn't have been financially viable.

While some local concerns about the aesthetic and environmental impacts of large-scale solar farms remain, this partnership marks a step forward in South Carolina's clean energy transition. The solar farm is expected to be completed in 2027, the same year as Meta's data center in Aiken.