An hourly clean energy match could be abandoned.
By Neal Broverman on May 6, 2026
Microsoft, known for being one of the most environmentally responsible companies in Big Tech, may be stepping back from its ambitious climate goal. The Redmond, Washington-based company had previously committed to matching 100% of its hourly electricity use with renewable energy by 2030; it already meets its annual targets.
However, with increasing pressure to build data centers to support AI, Microsoft might delay or abandon this hourly target, according to Bloomberg. The 100/100/0 goal aims to match all energy use with zero-carbon energy. But with Microsoft spending around $190 billion on data centers this year, there is less funding for other initiatives like clean energy. Consequently, the company has reduced its carbon-dioxide removal program.
Some tech companies now turn to natural gas, which emits greenhouse gases, rather than relying solely on solar, wind, or hydro power. In the race for AI, Big Tech’s carbon emissions have risen, with Microsoft’s emissions up 23% since late 2022, Google’s up 51%, and Meta’s up 64%, as reported by Bloomberg.