Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels

Meta’s ambitious AI endeavors are facing fresh scrutiny as its plans to power a massive data center in Louisiana with gas-fired power plants draw fire from environmental advocates and lawmakers. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has directly challenged CEO Mark Zuckerberg, demanding clarity on the project’s energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. The controversy underscores the escalating energy demands of AI-driven data centers, forcing utility companies to lean on fossil fuels, a move critics say jeopardizes the transition to renewable energy. Meta, committed to net-zero emissions by 2030, is now facing questions about the feasibility of that pledge given its expanding carbon footprint. While the company defends its approach through renewable energy credits and carbon capture technology investments, concerns persist about localized pollution affecting communities near the data center. This situation illuminates the growing conflict between the energy-intensive requirements of AI and corporate sustainability goals, leaving Meta at a crossroads as it navigates public pressure and explores cleaner energy alternatives for its rapidly expanding data infrastructure.