# Meta Withdraws from Renewable Energy Initiative Amid Natural Gas Investments The company shifts focus to natural gas for its data centers. - **Source:** [Engadget](https://www.engadget.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-24 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c8f00c16-ae9e-453d-99ab-73abf97f2b32 ## Meta's Energy Strategy Shifts Meta has invested in 10 natural gas plants over the past year. This move signals a departure from its renewable energy commitments, driven by the energy demands of AI data centers. ## Exit from RE100 Initiative Meta has withdrawn from the RE100 initiative, which it joined in 2016. The group aims for companies to source 100% of their electricity from renewables. Meta's exit highlights its changing energy priorities. ## Scale of Natural Gas Investments Meta's 10 natural gas plants will generate enough energy to power the state of South Dakota. These investments make it harder for the company to fulfill its renewable energy commitments. ## Energy Certificates and Offsetting Companies like Meta typically offset fossil fuel use by purchasing energy attribute certificates. However, as natural gas investments grow, this offset mechanism becomes less effective. ## Technical Criteria and Mutual Decision Climate Group stated that Meta can no longer meet RE100's technical criteria. Meta, meanwhile, called the decision 'mutual' and reaffirmed its commitment to clean energy. ## Future of Renewable Energy Commitments Meta's move underscores the challenges tech giants face in their energy strategies. Sustaining renewable energy commitments is becoming more complex with rising energy demands. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.engadget.com/2222988/meta-has-pulled-out-of-a-renewable-energy-initiative-as-it-relies-more-on-natural-gas-for-data-centers/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._