Meta to Invest Over $9 Billion in First Canadian AI Data Center
The facility in Alberta will be Meta's largest outside the United States and will be powered by a dedicated natural gas plant.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced Wednesday it will invest more than US$9.1 billion (C$13 billion) to construct its first artificial intelligence data center in Canada. This facility will be the company's largest outside of the United States.
The data center will be located in Sturgeon County, Alberta. Its power source will be a natural gas-fired plant developed by a consortium including Pembina Pipeline Ltd., a Calgary-based company. This project is seen as a significant development for Alberta, which has been actively seeking to attract hyperscale data center investments amidst a surge in demand for AI infrastructure.
Alberta's provincial government has been working to establish a regulatory framework to support such investments. However, the rapid expansion of AI technology has also raised concerns about the substantial electricity and water resources these facilities consume, as well as their potential impact on power grids and local communities. Recognizing these challenges, Alberta is prioritizing projects that can secure their own power generation, aligning with Meta's plans.
Meta stated that the data center will utilize a closed-loop cooling system designed to prevent drawing water from surrounding sources. The company also committed US$42 million towards improving local infrastructure, including roads and water systems.
Last week, Pembina Pipeline, along with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Kineticor Asset Management, confirmed their intention to proceed with the Greenlight Electricity Center in Sturgeon County. Meta has now been identified as the customer for this facility. The 932-megawatt power plant is anticipated to commence operations in the latter half of 2030.