Technology group Meta has formalized a partnership with Silicon Ranch Corporation and Central Electric Power Cooperative for the construction of a 100-megawatt solar power plant in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. This energy project is intended to power Meta’s first data center in this U.S. state, currently under construction in the Sage Mill Industrial Park near Graniteville.
Silicon Ranch, which will retain ownership and operation of the site, will lead the design, financing, and construction of the solar park. The electricity generated will be purchased by Central Electric Power Cooperative, the energy supply entity for the 19 electric cooperatives in South Carolina. The facility is expected to be operational by 2027, in parallel with the commissioning of Meta’s data center.
A fourth project between Silicon Ranch and Central
This partnership strengthens the business relationship between Silicon Ranch and Central, already connected through three previous projects. It also marks the 18th collaboration between Silicon Ranch and Meta, with a combined capacity exceeding 1,500 megawatts across four U.S. states. According to disclosed data, these projects have generated over $2.5 billion in investments for Silicon Ranch.
The energy from the future site will be integrated into Central’s overall supply portfolio, benefiting all local cooperatives. One of them, Aiken Electric Cooperative, will provide service to Meta’s data center. The latter will receive all renewable energy credits associated with the solar site’s production.
Local tax impact and supply strategy
The investment in the Orangeburg solar project is estimated at over $100 million. Silicon Ranch expects the facility to generate more than $8 million in new local tax revenues, allocated notably to public infrastructure and schools.
The company also indicated that the majority of the equipment used will come from manufacturers based in the United States, as part of a strategy to support the national supply chain. No further quantified details were provided regarding the exact volume of U.S.-origin components.
Energy planning for digital infrastructure
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to secure energy around Meta’s digital infrastructure. The installed capacity adds to a growing portfolio of energy assets that the tech group uses to stabilize its long-term operations across several states.
The project also highlights the growing role of local cooperatives in major energy supply initiatives, particularly in rapidly growing regions. Coordination among public, private, and community actors represents an operational lever in the southeastern United States.
