Enbridge, traditionally a pipeline and gas infrastructure giant, is moving into renewable power in partnership with Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Enbridge committed $900 million to build the 600 MW Clear Fork Solar Project near San Antonio, Texas.
A long-term deal will have 100% of the project’s clean energy to power Meta’s regional data centers. This supports Meta’s sustainability goals and shows major shifts in how tech giants get their electricity.
America’s New Solar Powerhouse
Texas leads the U.S. in energy production. The state ranks first in wind and second in solar generation. Texas is expected to have a cumulative capacity nearly doubling to 80 GW by 2030.
Such rapid growth will meet the rising electricity demand from data center expansions. Companies like Oracle, OpenAI, and Google are all adding gigawatts of power load.
Texas is becoming a leader in clean energy. It already ranks first in wind power and second in solar in the U.S.
The state’s wide-open land, strong sun, and business-friendly rules make it perfect for solar farms. In fact, its expected yearly additions are enough to power millions of homes.
Big tech companies are also setting up large operations in Texas. These companies need huge amounts of energy. As more data centers open, Texas’s energy demand is rising fast.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) says the state’s total energy needs could double by 2030. Solar power will play a key role in meeting this growth. Projects like Clear Fork help ensure that new energy demand is met with clean, renewable power.
Meta has 6.7 GW of renewables in the U.S. and 11.7 GW worldwide. It needs more clean energy to support its growing data infrastructure. The Clear Fork project helps deliver reliable, cost-effective solar power under a power purchase agreement (PPA).
For Enbridge, the deal brings profits starting in 2027. It also boosts its ESG credentials by moving from fossil-heavy assets to clean energy.
Scaling Solar for Energy-Hungry Data CentersÂ
Data centers are the engines of the internet. They run everything from emails to artificial intelligence. But they also use a lot of electricity. In 2024, data centers in the U.S. consumed over 46,000 megawatts (MW) of power. That number is expected to double by 2029.
Texas is seeing many new data centers built. These facilities need clean, reliable energy around the clock. This is where solar power comes in.
With big solar projects like Clear Fork, energy companies can deliver affordable and clean electricity. Enbridge’s project will supply 600 MW—enough to power thousands of homes or several data centers.
To make solar work even when the sun doesn’t shine, companies are adding battery storage. These batteries can save extra energy during the day and release it at night. This helps data centers stay online 24/7. With Meta’s partnership, Clear Fork becomes a model for how clean energy can support the future of digital life.
From Gas to Gigawatts: Enbridge’s Solar Surge
The Clear Fork project is just one of several major renewables investments by Enbridge. In November 2024, it started the 585 MW Sequoia Solar Project in Texas. It is also building the Fox Squirrel solar facility, which has 577 MW in Ohio. This project is in partnership with EDF Renewables and is set to power Amazon data centers.
In Wyoming, Enbridge leads a 771 MW solar project, marking a substantial entry into a state with just 330 MW of solar capacity before 2025.
These megaprojects align with Enbridge’s pivot strategy. The company balances traditional energy assets with new renewables to ensure stable long-term cash flow, even amid volatile commodity prices.
Jobs, Dollars, and Sunshine: Solar’s Ripple Effect
Utility-scale solar projects like Clear Fork bring more than clean energy. They spur local development, create hundreds of construction jobs, and increase tax revenues.
Recent Texas projects, like EdgeConneX’s $440 million data center in Bastrop County, have created thousands of construction jobs. They also provide long-term employment opportunities.
Texas regulators are looking at ways to improve transmission lines and increase grid capacity. They also want to balance the abundant solar energy during the day with energy storage. This will help ensure a reliable supply for facilities that operate 24/7.
As the solar-powered building boom continues, lawmakers grapple with how to prevent solar or wind opposition from limiting clean-energy growth.
Meta’s Sustainability Strategy: Building the Cleanest Cloud on Earth
Meta’s deal reinforces tech companies’ strategies to secure renewable energy certainty. Recent PPAs include a 791 MW deal with Invenergy covering multiple states and a 595 MW agreement with Zelestra in Texas. These deals align with commitments to 100% clean energy and support AI infrastructure demands.
Meta is rapidly growing its global data center footprint to support its AI and cloud services. New plans include large superclusters like the 5 GW “Hyperion” in Louisiana and the 1 GW “Prometheus” in Ohio. These centers will support high-demand AI workloads.
The company has already invested over $68 billion in capex over the past 18 months and holds 11.7 GW of contracted renewable capacity, with 6.7 GW live in the U.S.
Meta matches 100% of its data center electricity with renewable energy and achieves LEED Gold or higher certification across all facilities. Its centers average a PUE of 1.09 and WUE of 0.18, reflecting top-tier energy and water efficiency.
The tech giant also recycles 91% of construction waste. The company is exploring innovative technologies like geothermal and nuclear power to meet growing energy needs while staying aligned with its goal of net-zero emissions by 2030.
-
RELATED: Meta and XGS Energy Launch 150 MW Geothermal Project to Power its Data Centers in New Mexico
Meta’s deal reinforces tech companies’ strategies to secure renewable energy certainty. Recent PPAs include a 791 MW deal with Invenergy covering multiple states and a 595 MW agreement with Zelestra in Texas. These deals align with commitments to 100% clean energy and support AI infrastructure demands.
For utilities and energy developers, long-term PPAs with tech partners are a lifeline. They provide the financing needed to build big solar farms while offering companies the green credentials they need for sustainability reporting and ESG goals.
Blueprint for a Solar-Powered Internet Future
Enbridge’s $900M commitment to the 600 MW Clear Fork Solar Project marks a key moment in clean-energy and data industry integration. It reflects a broader trend: utilities partnering with tech giants to secure reliable, sustainable energy for rapidly expanding data infrastructure.
By pairing large-scale solar with long-term PPAs, Enbridge and Meta are not just meeting sustainability goals—they’re helping create the blueprint for how future data-demand growth can be powered cleanly, affordably, and reliably.
- FURTHER READING: Top 4 Solar Stocks to Watch in 2025 and Why They Matter
The post Enbridge Powers Meta Data Centers with $900M Texas Solar Investment appeared first on Carbon Credits.
