Meta’s Natural g=Gas Binge Could Power South Dakota

Meta’s Natural g=Gas Binge Could Power South Dakota

Meta's Hyperion AI Data Center Could Power — and Pollute — Like an Entire U.S. State If you've been wondering how much energy it actually takes to run the world's most powerful AI systems, the answer just got a lot more concrete. Meta's new Hyperion AI data center in Louisiana is expected to consume as much electricity as the entire state of South Dakota — and most of it will come from natural gas. That single fact reshapes the conversation around Big Tech's climate commitments in ways the industry can no longer brush aside. The sheer scale of this project is difficult to overstate. At $27 billion, Hyperion is one of the most expensive infrastructure investments in the history of the internet. And behind it sits a web of energy decisions that will have real, measurable consequences for the atmosphere for decades to come. Why Meta Is Going All-In on Natural Gas To keep the lights on at Hyperion, Meta has committed to funding ten natural gas power plants in Louisiana — s…