Meta Bets Billions on Canada With Largest AI Data Centre Outside the US
Meta is pouring more than CAD $13 billion (around US$9.2 billion) into its first AI data centre in Canada, choosing Sturgeon County in Alberta for what will become the company's largest facility outside the United States.
Designed with 1 gigawatt of computing capacity, the site will support Meta's expanding artificial intelligence services while strengthening its global network of data centres.
The project, confirmed during an announcement in Calgary, will become Meta's 33rd data centre worldwide.
It joins the company's existing facilities across the United States, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and Singapore as Meta accelerates investment in AI infrastructure to support products used by billions of people.
Why Alberta Won The Race For Meta's AI Investment
The social media giant selected Sturgeon County, located around 35 kilometres north of Edmonton in Alberta's Industrial Heartland, after evaluating its access to power, infrastructure, skilled workers and local partnerships.
Gary Demasi, Meta's Vice-President of Data Centre Strategy and Development, said:
"We are excited to announce that Sturgeon County, Alberta, will be home to Meta's newest data center."
The campus will cover approximately 2.9 million square feet and is expected to take between two and three years to build.
A Meta spokesperson said the location met the company's key requirements.
"This specific location met the factors we typically look for: good access to infrastructure, a robust electric grid and access to energy, a strong pool of talent, and a great set of community partners that helped us move this project forward."
The investment comes as Meta continues an aggressive AI expansion.
The company previously said it plans to spend up to US$135 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, almost double the US$72 billion invested in 2025.
Thousands Of Jobs And Billions More Could Follow
Construction is expected to support more than 3,000 workers at its busiest stage, while the completed facility will create more than 300 permanent operational jobs.
Meta will also invest around CAD $60 million in local infrastructure, including roads and water systems, while launching a Community Action Grants programme to fund local non-profit organisations.
Alberta's government estimates the development could generate roughly CAD $250 million each year through taxes, natural gas royalties and industry levies.
Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish said the project was the result of years of work rather than chance.
"It did not happen by accident. It happened by design."
The province views the project as its largest capital investment since Suncor's CAD $17 billion Fort Hills oilsands mine.
Industry analyst Carson Kearl of Enverus believes total spending linked to the project could eventually exceed CAD $75 billion once AI chips, servers and networking equipment are included.
Gas Power Sparks Debate Over AI Growth
Powering the enormous facility will require both Alberta's electricity grid and the nearby Greenlight Electricity Center, a separate CAD $4.6 billion natural gas plant owned by Pembina Pipeline, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Kineticor.
Meta will purchase electricity from the plant but does not own the facility.
The project also revealed Meta as the previously unnamed customer behind Greenlight, whose approval was announced on 2 July 2026.
The power station is expected to begin operating during the second half of 2030.
Once fully developed, the AI campus could consume up to 970 megawatts from Alberta's grid while drawing as much as 1,800 megawatts from on-site gas generation.
That level of demand is comparable to the electricity used by around 800,000 homes.
The reliance on natural gas has prompted environmental concerns because Alberta's electricity grid produces significantly more carbon emissions than the Canadian average.
Meta said it will match 100% of the site's electricity use with clean and renewable energy by supporting regional renewable energy projects.
The company also said it will cover the full cost of its electricity demand to avoid increasing local power bills.
The Pembina Institute argued that additional gas demand could push household electricity costs higher in future, while Glubish maintained that Meta's estimated CAD $100 million in annual transmission payments would spread infrastructure costs across more users and reduce transmission charges for Albertans by as much as six per cent.
Meta Promises Low Water Use And Environmental Commitments
Meta said the data centre has been designed to minimise water consumption through a closed-loop liquid cooling system using dry cooling technology, meaning no water will be required for cooling operations.
According to the company, water use at the site will be limited to domestic purposes, equipment maintenance and fire protection.
Meta said:
"Our annual water use is actually less than a typical Alberta golf course."
The company has also pledged to become water positive by 2030 by restoring more water than it consumes in the watersheds where it operates.
In Alberta, it plans to help conserve 200 acres of grassland, wetlands and trees within the North Saskatchewan River watershed, while publishing annual data on water withdrawals and energy use once the facility becomes operational.
Meta Pushes Ahead Despite Investor Questions
The Canadian expansion comes as Meta races to build AI infrastructure alongside rivals including Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon, all of which continue expanding their own cloud and AI capacity.
At the same time, Meta is reportedly exploring a cloud computing business that could allow outside customers to rent excess computing capacity or access AI models hosted within its infrastructure.
Some investors remain cautious about the company's heavy AI spending, with concerns over the scale of capital expenditure and the lack of a clear revenue stream beyond advertising.
Meta's shares have fallen about 9% this year, while the Nasdaq has gained roughly 11%.
Despite those concerns, the Alberta project signals that Meta intends to continue investing heavily in AI infrastructure as competition intensifies across the technology industry.
Miyuki
