Meta is exploring a new role in the energy sector by seeking federal approval to trade electricity, a move aimed at accelerating the construction of new power plants to support its expanding data center infrastructure. According to Bloomberg, Meta and Microsoft are both pursuing regulatory clearance to participate in wholesale electricity markets—Apple has already received such approval. The initiative stems from the massive energy demands driven by Meta’s AI ambitions. The company’s head of global infrastructure, Urvi Parekh, told Bloomberg that power plant developers need assurance that long-term buyers are committed. “Without Meta taking a more active voice in the need to expand the amount of power that’s on the system, it’s not happening as quickly as we would like,” she said. By entering the electricity trading market, Meta aims to secure long-term power purchase agreements with new energy projects while reducing financial risk. The ability to resell excess power on wholesale markets would give the company greater flexibility and help de-risk investments in new generation capacity. The scale of the energy challenge is significant. Bloomberg reports that at least three new gas-powered power plants will be required to meet the energy needs of Meta’s planned data center campus in Louisiana alone. These facilities are critical to supporting the AI workloads that demand continuous, high-capacity power. Meta’s push into energy trading reflects a broader trend among tech giants, as companies with growing data center footprints face increasing pressure to ensure reliable, scalable, and sustainable power sources. By becoming active players in the energy market, Meta hopes to not only secure its own supply but also help drive broader grid modernization and expansion.