Meta to Build Major AI Data Center in Alberta, Canada
The facility, Meta's largest AI data center outside the U.S., will be powered by a new natural gas plant, addressing concerns about electricity demand.
Meta Platforms Inc. announced Wednesday plans to construct its first artificial intelligence data center in Canada, a facility slated to be its largest outside the United States. The investment is valued at more than 13 billion Canadian dollars (US$9.1 billion).
The data center will be located in Sturgeon County, Alberta. Its power source will be a 932-megawatt natural gas-fired electricity plant, a project developed by a consortium including Pembina Pipeline Ltd. The power plant is anticipated to begin operations in the latter half of 2030. Meta has been identified as the primary customer for this facility, named the Greenlight Electricity Center.
Alberta's government has been actively seeking to attract large-scale data centers, driven by the escalating demand for AI infrastructure. Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish highlighted the province's regulatory framework designed to support such investments. However, the rapid expansion of AI has also raised concerns regarding the substantial electricity and water resources required by these facilities, as well as their potential impact on local power grids and communities.
To mitigate potential strain on its existing electricity grid, Alberta is prioritizing data center projects that secure their own power generation, a model Meta's planned facility follows. Meta stated that the new data center will utilize a closed-loop cooling system, designed to prevent drawing water from surrounding environmental sources. The company also committed US$42 million toward enhancing local infrastructure, including roads and water systems.