Meta is constructing two natural gas facilities in Ohio to power its data center ambitions. The Socrates South facility, a 200 MW plant in New Albany, and the larger Apollo facility, a 350 MW plant in Middleton Township, have received approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board. Combined, they will provide 550 MW of new gas-fired generation capacity dedicated entirely to feeding Meta's AI infrastructure.
Expedited Approval
Ohio passed legislation in 2025 that created an expedited approval pathway for certain power plants, allowing projects to receive sign-off within 45 days without public hearings. The plants are being constructed by subsidiaries of The Williams Companies, with Meta financing both projects and consuming all the generated electricity.
Emissions Concerns
Estimates suggest that facilities of this type could emit around 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually per project. If both plants operate at scale, that's potentially 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Residents near the Middleton Township site have expressed frustration over the lack of opportunity to weigh in before the project was approved and construction commenced.
Behind-the-Meter Model
The behind-the-meter setup means these facilities operate essentially off-grid, supplying power directly to Meta's data centers without routing through the public utility system. This model could become a template for other hyperscalers, creating a sustained pipeline of infrastructure projects. Construction on both Ohio facilities is targeting completion by late 2026.
Regulatory Backlash
Ohio's expedited permitting process is already drawing criticism from environmental groups and local communities. If public opposition builds, states could tighten the rules just as quickly as they loosened them. Meta's Ohio strategy is one approach to meeting hyperscale AI computing demand, but it raises concerns over the hidden energy cost of AI and the impact of expedited permitting on local communities
Based on reporting from cryptobriefing.com.
