Meta has announced plans to invest in seven natural gas power plants in Louisiana to support its Hyperion AI data center, which will generate around 7.5 gigawatts of electricity, slightly more than the capacity of the entire Mount Rushmore State. The company has previously touted its environmental credentials and has been a leading purchaser of solar, batteries, and nuclear in recent years. However, the decision to invest heavily in natural gas is seen as a "bridge fuel" strategy, which has seen a decrease in price while prices for gas turbines have risen. The new data center in Louisiana will generate 12.4 million metric tons of CO into the atmosphere every year, which is 50% more than Meta's entire carbon footprint in 2024. The move could exacerbate the company's carbon footprint and lead to a significant increase in carbon emissions.