Greenpeace wants Facebook center off coal fuel

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By Associated Press

Summary

Greenpeace says about 500,000 Facebook users have urged the world's largest social network to abandon plans to buy electricity from a coal-based energy company for its new data center.

Story Published: Sep 1, 2010 at 7:18 AM PST

Greenpeace wants Facebook center off coal fuel

Wikimedia Commons photo of coal

AMSTERDAM (AP) - Greenpeace says about 500,000 Facebook users have urged the world's largest social network to abandon plans to buy electricity from a coal-based energy company for its new data center.

Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo has told The Associated Press he sent a letter to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg saying the network is "out of touch" with its 500 million users and with the trend among information technology companies to use cleaner energy.

The environment group started a Facebook group in February after the company announced plans to build a center in Oregon, asking the company not to use dirty energy. Last week the group passed 500,000 members.

Naidoo said Wednesday that Facebook could have chosen a site where wind or solar power is available.