Meta’s ambitions to build a nuclear-powered AI data center in the United States have reportedly been disrupted by an unexpected environmental discovery.

According to the Financial Times, a rare bee species was found at a site adjacent to Meta’s proposed facility, prompting the tech giant to reconsider its plans. This unforeseen ecological concern and regulatory challenges have posed a major obstacle for the company.

During a recent internal meeting, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed employees about the unexpected delay. He noted that the discovery of the rare bee species, alongside stringent regulatory hurdles, had complicated Meta’s infrastructure expansion efforts.

The company had been negotiating with a nuclear power plant operator to power the AI data center which would have supported Meta’s expanding AI initiatives. However, further details about the nuclear partner’s location or identity remain confidential.

The halted project comes during fierce competition among tech leaders to develop data infrastructure for AI capabilities.

Industry rivals such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are investing billions in AI-supporting data centers. Recently, Google partnered with Kairos Power to utilize energy from small modular reactors, marking a first in tech’s commitment to advanced nuclear solutions.

Meanwhile, Amazon is pursuing a $150 billion investment plan to develop up to 240 new data facilities by 2040. Microsoft has also entered the nuclear energy arena, securing a 20-year power purchase deal with Constellation to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear site partially.