Meta to invest billions in first Canadian AI data centre in Alberta
Meta will invest C$13 billion (US$9.17 billion) to build its first artificial intelligence data centre in Canada, the largest outside the United States, in Sturgeon County, Alberta, the company announced on Wednesday. The facility, which will span 2.9 million square feet and consume as much electricity as 800,000 households, will be powered by a 932-megawatt natural gas-fired plant being developed by a consortium including Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Ltd. The power plant, known as the Greenlight Electricity Center, is scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2030 and will supply the data centre under a long-term contract requiring approximately 4.25 million cubic metres of natural gas daily .
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith hailed the project as “one of the largest private-sector investments ever in Canada,” speaking alongside Meta executives in Calgary. “Alberta is the ideal North American spot for data centres thanks to affordable electricity, flexible power generation, a cooler climate and a skilled workforce,” she said, noting the facility would support several thousand jobs and generate roughly C$175 million annually in benefits for Albertans . Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish called the project “a big deal for Alberta,” crediting the province’s regulatory framework for attracting hyperscale data centre investment amid surging global demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure .
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is accelerating spending on AI infrastructure worldwide. The company confirmed the Sturgeon County facility will use a closed-loop cooling system to avoid drawing water from local sources and will invest an additional US$42 million in local infrastructure, including roads and water systems . The announcement follows Alberta’s move to prioritise projects capable of self-generating power, as the province’s grid cannot currently support multiple large AI data centres without risking strain on the network .
Critics have raised concerns about the environmental impact of such facilities, including high electricity consumption, water use, and emissions. Alberta’s electricity grid relies heavily on fossil fuels, with emissions nearly five times the national average, according to local reporting . Meta’s decision to finance its own power generation addresses grid limitations but underscores the broader challenge of reconciling AI expansion with sustainability goals. The company’s global data centre portfolio now stands at 33 facilities, with Sturgeon County marking its first in Canada .
The investment arrives as Canadian provinces compete to attract hyperscale data centres by touting cheap energy, cooler climates, and supportive regulatory environments. Meta’s commitment signals confidence in Alberta’s long-term capacity to host energy-intensive AI infrastructure, even as debates over emissions and resource use intensify. The project’s scale—both financial and operational—positions Sturgeon County as a key node in North America’s AI ecosystem, with operations expected to commence alongside the completion of the Greenlight Electricity Center in 2030.
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