Microsoft is reconsidering its 100/100/0 clean energy target as the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure drives up electricity demand. While the company has achieved annual renewable matching, the requirement to match energy use with zero-carbon power every hour on regional grids is proving difficult. Data center growth has led to a 23.4% increase in total emissions since 2020. To manage this, Microsoft is pursuing diverse energy sources, including nuclear restarts and new carbon-free projects, while reportedly exploring natural gas options to keep pace with AI workloads.
