Rare bee discovery halts Facebook parent Meta’s nuclear power plans

Nov 5

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has paused its plans to build a nuclear-powered data center after discovering a rare bee species near the proposed site, according to recent reports. The project aimed to create the largest nuclear facility dedicated to powering data centers.

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The tech giant had been attempting to construct this the nuclear facility as the energy demands from data centers are surging, requiring electricity levels comparable to those of tens of thousands of homes.

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Nuclear energy, which can deliver continuous power, has drawn interest from major technology companies including Google, Microsoft and Amazon as they seek sustainable ways to meet their rising energy needs while maintaining renewable energy commitments.

According to Financial Times, CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed Meta employees that the decision to halt the project stemmed in part from concerns surrounding the bee species. Although the specific type of bee has not been disclosed, the rusty patched bumblebee is the only type of bee in the continental U.S. that is protected under the Endangered Species Act.

In addition to ecological concerns, regulatory complexities reportedly also played a role in the decision to halt the project.

Meta officials indicated that the company will now explore alternative carbon-free energy projects, including other potential nuclear investments.

Tags: Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta, Nuclear energy, nuclear plant, Social Media

[Jack Aylmer]

FACEBOOK PARENT COMPANY META HAD BEEN WANTING TO BUILD A NUCLEAR POWERED DATA CENTER-

BUT THE PLAN HAS BEEN DERAILED BY AN UNEXPECTED CULPRIT- BEES.

LIKE MANY OTHER TECH GIANTS TODAY, META’S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS CAME AS A RESULT OF THE COMPANY’S RISING ENERGY NEEDS –

FUELED BY THE POWER DEMANDS OF DATA CENTERS, WHICH CAN REQUIRE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO KEEP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES RUNNING.

COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE AND AMAZON HAVE ALSO EXPLORED NUCLEAR POWER OPTIONS-

CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING THE ROUND THE CLOCK ELECTRICITY NEEDED BY DATA CENTERS, WHILE STILL ALLOWING THESE MAJOR CORPORATIONS TO HIT THEIR RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS.

FOR THESE REASONS, META AIMED TO CONSTRUCT THE WORLD’S LARGEST NUCLEAR PLANT AVAILABLE FOR POWERING DATA CENTERS.

HOWEVER, CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG REPORTEDLY TOLD HIS EMPLOYEES THIS PLAN FELL APART IN RESPONSE TO THE DISCOVERY OF A RARE BEE SPECIES NEAR THE PROJECT SITE.

REGULATORY ISSUES WERE ALSO SAID TO BE A FACTOR IN THE DECISION TO HALT THIS ENDEAVOR.

WHILE META OFFICIALS HAVEN’T REVEALED EXACTLY WHAT TYPE OF BEE WAS FOUND-

THE RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLEBEE IS THE ONLY TYPE OF BEE IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES THAT IS PROTECTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.

ACCORDING TO THE FINANCIAL TIMES, META WILL NOW TURN ITS ATTENTION TOWARDS OTHER CARBON-FREE ENERGY PROJECTS-

INCLUDING FUTURE POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS IN OTHER NUCLEAR POWER INITIATIVES.

TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW TECH COMPANIES ARE ADDRESSING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.