Meta New Albany (Socrates)

Meta / Williams — New Albany, OH — 400 MW

Satellite image of Meta's Socrates South power plant in New Albany, OH. Captured April 7, 2026. © Airbus DS (2026)

Developer / Operator: Meta (via subsidiary Sidecat LLC)
Power Partner: Will-Power OH LLC, a subsidiary of The Williams Companies
Location: New Albany, Ohio (outside of Columbus)
Capacity: 400 MW of behind-the-meter gas generation (200 MW each at Socrates South and Socrates North), plus an estimated 173 MW of battery storage
Grid Strategy: The gas generation is entirely off-grid, behind-the-meter power dedicated exclusively to Meta's adjacent data center. Other buildings on the campus are connected to the grid, suggesting Meta will likely connect the BTM-powered buildings eventually after their 10 year agreement with Williams expires.
Status: Both plants under construction; targeting Q3 2026 for completion

Background

Meta has operated data centers in New Albany, Ohio since breaking ground on its first facility there in 2017, expanding the campus consistently in the years since. Socrates is the latest addition: two identical 200 MW dedicated onsite power plants being built and operated by The Williams Companies, a Tulsa-based midstream natural gas firm, through its subsidiary Will-Power OH LLC. Meta signed a 10-year agreement with an option to extend, according to a Williams earnings call in November 2025.

The Socrates plants are part of Meta's broader Prometheus campus, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg described on Threads on July 14, 2025 as the world's first 1 GW+ AI supercluster. (Meta likely wasn't the first to reach 1 GW). The Socrates plants are just one piece of that campus's power strategy. Meta has also signed nuclear power deals with Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower, alongside a 20-year PPA with Constellation Energy.

Power Strategy

Neither Socrates plant will be connected to the electric grid. All power generated on site goes directly to Meta's adjacent data center.

Both Socrates South and Socrates North feature identical equipment lineups. According to OPSB permit documents, each plant consists of 30 generation units: three Solar Turbines Titan 250 combustion turbines, nine Solar Turbines PGM 130 combustion turbines, three Siemens Energy SGT400 combustion turbines, and 15 Caterpillar 3520 reciprocating engines. Together, each plant is capable of producing up to 258 MW at design atmospheric conditions, though formally rated at 200 MW. Space has also been reserved at each plant for one Solar SMT 130 mobile turbine generator to provide power during outage events.

Both plants also include battery storage. Satellite imagery shows 45 battery storage containers at each site (90 total). If Williams is using the same Tesla Megapack 2XL containers deployed at Meta's Bowling Green data center, that would imply approximately 86.4 MW of storage capacity at each location, or 173 MW combined.

Meta filed the OPSB application for Socrates South in Q1 2025. The Ohio Power Siting Board approved it on June 9, 2025. Socrates North was approved by OPSB in September 2025. Both facilities are targeting Q3 2026 for completion.

Beyond the Socrates plants, Meta's broader power strategy for the Prometheus campus includes significant nuclear deals. In January 2026, Meta announced deals with Vistra (2.1 GW from existing nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania), Oklo (a 1.2 GW campus in Pike County, Ohio, potentially online around 2030), and TerraPower. Meta also signed a 20-year PPA with Constellation Energy for output from the Clinton, Illinois nuclear plant in June 2025.

Construction Progress

As of mid-May 2026, both plants are well into construction.

At Socrates South, construction began in June 2025. By early April 2026, satellite imagery showed 15 turbines visible, with 9 appearing complete and 6 still under construction, along with 45 battery storage containers. By mid-May, 11 turbines appeared complete with 4 still under construction, and 7 of the 15 Caterpillar 3520 reciprocating engines appeared to be in place.

At Socrates North, construction began in September 2025. Meta completed land clearing in Q4 2025, with civil foundation work starting that same quarter and mechanical/electrical construction beginning in Q1 2026. By early May 2026, satellite imagery showed 11 rapid deployment structures (10 appearing complete), 15-18 turbines visible (7 appearing complete), and 45 battery storage containers.

Generation Equipment (per plant)

Solar Turbines Titan 250: 3 units, 67 MW
Solar Turbines PGM 130: 9 units, 140 MW
Siemens Energy SGT400: 3 units, 39 MW
Caterpillar 3520: 15 units, 30 MW
Solar SMT 130 (reserved): 1 unit (mobile, for outage events)
Battery storage: ~45 containers (~86.4 MW, likely Tesla Megapack 2XL)
Total per plant: 30 generation units, up to 258 MW at design conditions (rated at 200 MW)
Total combined: 60 generation units, 400 MW rated capacity, ~173 MW battery storage

Key Partners

The Williams Companies (Will-Power OH LLC): Power plant developer and operator
Solar Turbines (Caterpillar): Titan 250, PGM 130, and SMT 130 turbines
Siemens Energy: SGT400 combustion turbines
Caterpillar: 3520 reciprocating engines
Tesla (likely): Megapack 2XL battery storage
Vistra: 2.1 GW nuclear PPA (broader Prometheus campus)
Constellation Energy: 20-year nuclear PPA (Clinton, IL plant)
Oklo: 1.2 GW nuclear campus (Pike County, OH)
TerraPower: Nuclear partnership (details TBD)

Timeline

2017: Meta breaks ground on first New Albany data center
Q1 2025: Socrates South OPSB application filed
June 2025: OPSB approves Socrates South; Williams begins construction
June 2025: Meta signs 20-year PPA with Constellation Energy
September 2025: OPSB approves Socrates North; construction begins
Q4 2025: Socrates North land clearing complete; civil foundation work begins
Q1 2026: Socrates North mechanical/electrical construction begins
January 2026: Meta announces nuclear deals with Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower
April 2026: Socrates South: 15 turbines visible, 9 complete; 45 battery containers in place
May 2026: Socrates North: 15-18 turbines visible, 7 complete; 45 battery containers in place
Q3 2026 (target): Both Socrates South and North in service