The Science Based Targets initiative has scrapped a proposed rule that would have forced tech companies to match fossil fuel energy use with clean power generated at the same time. SBTi walked back its recommendation after heavy lobbying from industry groups pushing back against time-based energy accounting. The move weakens efforts to curb pollution from gas-powered data centers.

Driven by the AI boom, Amazon and Meta have been installing gas turbines where local grids can't meet demand. They offset fossil fuel emissions by buying clean energy certificates from distant projects—like a Texas data center buying California solar credits. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol had proposed requiring same-market, same-time matching to close that loophole.

Companies with nearly $5 trillion in combined revenue—including Apple, Amazon, and GM—lobbied against the stricter rules through a coalition called "May not Shall", claiming they would discourage clean energy investments. Google, meanwhile, backed hourly matching despite being the largest corporate renewable energy buyer. Princeton and the EU have argued that hourly accounting would cut emissions far faster than current systems.