- A rare bee species has been found at the data center site proposed by Meta
- Meta wants to continue to maintain net zero greenhouse gas emissions
- Regulatory hurdles may also have contributed to the project’s cancellation
Meta’s efforts to build a new nuclear-powered AI data center have come to an end after scientists found a rare species of bee at the proposed site.
According to a report from the Financial timesThe problem reportedly came to light when company CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed during an all-hands meeting that the pollinators were on the property.
Because the area now needs to be protected, building regulations have prevented the social media giant from gaining access to the land, let alone its moral obligations not to drive out the rare species.
Bees, Mark?
In addition to the discovery of the important species, the Financial times The report cites two unnamed sources who believe further regulatory hurdles also contributed to the decision to end the plan. Specific details about the location of the site have not been disclosed.
However, the bad news (or good news if you look at it from an environmental perspective) comes because Meta is serious about expanding its infrastructure to meet the demand for AI tools. The Californian company expects to generate $38 billion in capital expenditures by 2024. AI and data center projects will likely make up a large portion of that amount.
By using nuclear energy, the proposed data center would have helped Meta reduce its carbon footprint. While nuclear power may be controversial, it is a carbon-free energy source being explored by the likes of Microsoft and Amazon as part of a global effort to address the high energy demands of AI data centers.
Although there is always room for improvement, Meta proclaimed pride in her Sustainability report 2024 that it has maintained net-zero greenhouse gas emissions since 2020, thanks in part to its 11,700 MW renewable energy portfolio.
The report adds: “Meta designs and operates some of the most sustainable data centers in the industry… We approach data center sustainability from the ground up – from design and construction to operations, by prioritizing energy efficiency, renewable energy, water management and responsible management of the data centers. end of life of our equipment.”