Meta has partnered with Silicon Ranch to bring a new 100-megawatt solar farm to South Carolina, part of the tech company’s push to match its fast-growing data center operations with renewable energy.

According to Silicon Ranch’s announcement on Tuesday, the Nashville-based renewable energy developer will invest $100 million to build the facility in Orangeburg County. The solar farm is expected to go online in 2027, the same year Meta’s first South Carolina data center opens in nearby Aiken.

As part of the deal, Meta will receive all of the renewable energy credits from the project, ensuring the facility contributes directly to its corporate sustainability goals. Importantly, no community or utility investments are required for the project, Silicon Ranch told ESG Dive.

The new solar farm also includes a partnership with Central Electric Power Cooperative, which will purchase energy from the facility for its member cooperatives across South Carolina. That includes Aiken Electric Cooperative, which will supply Meta’s forthcoming data center.

Long-Term Renewable Partnership

This marks the 18th collaboration between Meta and Silicon Ranch, representing “well over 1,500 MW of renewable energy capacity” and $2.5 billion in investments, according to the announcement. Previous joint projects span Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, with more in development.

“This deal reflects the fact that an all-of-the-above energy strategy is necessary to power our growing economy,” Silicon Ranch said in an email. “Today, our country needs more energy than ever before, and we can do so in a way that supports American manufacturing, strengthens our infrastructure, and brings jobs and investment to rural communities.”

Meta’s Renewable Energy Push

Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — is one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy globally. Since 2020, the company has reported net-zero scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, achieved by matching the energy consumption of its data centers with renewable sources, according to its 2024 environmental report.

In July, Meta announced another major deal to purchase all energy from a 600 MW solar plant in Texas being developed by Enbridge, backed by a $900 million investment. That project is also expected to come online in 2027.

Policy Backdrop & Regional Impact

The South Carolina solar deal comes as federal tax credit policies for renewables face new restrictions under a recently passed Republican budget law. The Department of Treasury clarified that for tax credit eligibility, construction on wind and solar projects begins “when physical work of a significant nature begins.”

For South Carolina, the project promises not only clean power but also new construction jobs, infrastructure investment, and economic benefits for rural communities. By directly tying into Meta’s Aiken data center, the solar farm also strengthens the state’s role as a hub for both digital infrastructure and renewable energy development.

Originally reported by Lamar Johnson in Construction Dive.