Meta to Build $9.1B AI Data Center in Alberta, Canada

Meta announces massive Canadian AI infrastructure investment

Meta plans to invest more than $9.1 billion (13 billion Canadian dollars) to construct an artificial intelligence data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta — the company's first facility in Canada and its largest anywhere outside the United States, according to details first reported by The Associated Press.

The Facebook and Instagram parent company announced the project Wednesday, revealing that the facility will be powered by a dedicated natural gas-fired power plant rather than drawing from Alberta's existing electrical grid. A consortium including Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Ltd., Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor Asset Management will develop the 932-megawatt Greenlight Electricity Center to supply the data center, with operations expected to begin in the second half of 2030.

Why it matters

The project illustrates how AI infrastructure demands are reshaping energy policy and corporate investment strategies. Alberta's electrical grid cannot support multiple large-scale AI data centers simultaneously, forcing the province to require that such facilities secure their own power generation — a model that could become standard as other jurisdictions face similar capacity constraints. The scale of Meta's investment also signals continued confidence in AI development despite growing scrutiny of the technology's resource requirements.

Addressing environmental and infrastructure concerns

Meta stated the data center will employ a closed-loop cooling system that won't draw water from local sources, responding to mounting concerns about AI facilities' water consumption. The company also committed $42 million toward local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems.

Alberta Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish characterized the investment as "a big deal for Alberta," crediting the province's regulatory framework designed to attract data center development. Alberta has actively pursued hyperscale data center projects as artificial intelligence infrastructure demand accelerates globally.

The rapid expansion of AI computing has generated significant debate about the environmental impact of data centers, which require substantial electricity and water resources while placing considerable strain on regional power grids and communities. By requiring dedicated power generation for large AI facilities, Alberta is attempting to balance economic opportunity with grid stability.

The Associated Press first reported these details on Wednesday.