Silicon Ranch has partnered with Central Electric Power Cooperative to construct a 100MW solar farm that will power Meta's inaugural data centre in the US state of South Carolina.
Situated in Orangeburg County, the solar farm will be Silicon Ranch and Central Electric’s fourth project together and the 18th infrastructure project between Meta and Silicon.
Construction is expected to cost more than $100m. Silicon Ranch will fund, build, own and operate the facility in coordination with the system balancing authority, Santee Cooper.
Central Electric will purchase the facility’s output and serve the Meta data centre through Aiken Electric Cooperative, one of its 19 member cooperatives.
Meta global energy head Urvi Parekh stated: “As Meta progresses construction on our data centre in South Carolina, we are pleased to join our new utility partners Central and Aiken Electric Cooperative and our long-term trusted partner Silicon Ranch to announce this project together.
“We’re grateful to Central for supporting our energy goals in South Carolina and thrilled to expand our relationship with Silicon Ranch, which shares our commitment to have a positive impact in the communities where we locate.”
Silicon Ranch estimates that the facility will produce more $8m in fresh tax revenue, contributing significantly towards funding local schools and various community projects.
Both the data centre operated by Meta and Silicon Ranch’s Orangeburg County solar facility are expected to commence operations in 2027.
Central Electric Power Cooperative president and CEO Rob Hochstetler stated: “As the power supplier for South Carolina’s 19 electric cooperatives, Central is laser-focused on meeting our state’s growing energy demands at competitive prices and in a safe and responsible manner.
“Our expanded partnership with Silicon Ranch supports our ability to deliver toward this mission, and we are thrilled to help welcome Meta to South Carolina.”
In June 2025, Meta Platforms signed an agreement with XGS Energy to facilitate the development of a 150MW geothermal energy project in New Mexico, US.
