Multistate AGs Probe Big Tech 'Greenwashing' Claims
West Virginia Attorney General John 'JB' McCuskey announced he is joining a multistate investigation—led by Montana AG Austin Knudsen and including 15 other state attorneys general—into Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft over allegations that the companies misrepresent their use of renewable energy. The probe focuses on claims that firms assert they are powered entirely by renewables while relying on renewable energy certificates (RECs) rather than matching real-time electricity usage at data centers, a practice AGs say can distort markets and complicate grid planning.
Politics
Energy
AI & Tech
📌 Key Facts
- West Virginia AG John 'JB' McCuskey is joining 15 other state attorneys general in the investigation (a 16-state coalition).
- Targets named: Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft over claims of being powered entirely by renewable energy.
- Allegation: firms rely on renewable energy certificates (RECs) that allow them to claim green power use even when data centers draw electricity from coal or natural-gas generation; AG McCuskey warned this threatens grid reliability and distorts energy markets.