Meta announced at a press conference in Calgary on July 8 that it will build a 1-gigawatt (1 GW), 2.9 million square foot AI data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta, Canada; the investment is estimated to exceed 13 billion CAD (about 9.2 billion USD), making it the company's first data center in Canada and its largest outside the United States.
Data Center Specifications and Business Significance: 1 GW, 2.9 Million Square Feet
According to Meta's official statement, the core specifications of the Alberta data center are as follows: capacity of 1 gigawatt (1 GW); building area of 2.9 million square feet; located in Alberta's industrial hub; it is Meta's largest data center outside the US and its first in Canada; Meta's global data center network includes sites in Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, and Singapore, with this being the 33rd.
Meta states that the campus is optimized for AI workloads supporting products used by billions of users; the company plans to invest up to 135 billion USD in AI infrastructure by 2026, double the 72 billion USD projected for 2025.
Greenlight Electricity Center Natural Gas Power Plant: $4.6 Billion
Reports indicate that Greenlight Electricity Center is an independent facility jointly owned by Pembina Pipeline, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor, with an investment of 4.6 billion USD; Meta does not own the power plant, only purchases electricity from it. Full operation of the data center requires up to 970 megawatts from the grid and on-site natural gas generation of up to 1,800 megawatts, enough to power 800,000 households.
The Pembina Institute, a clean energy think tank, warns that increased natural gas demand will lead to higher electricity costs for Alberta households in the coming years; Meta has announced it will use 100% renewable energy certificates to offset power consumption and promote clean energy projects in Alberta.
Alberta's Minister of Technology, Nate Glubish, noted that Meta's annual transmission costs of about 100 million USD could reduce other residents' transmission fees by up to 6%.
Employment, Tax Revenue, and Water Use: Peak Construction of 3,000 Workers, Annual Tax and Fees of CAD 250 Million
Based on data from Meta and the Alberta government, the main economic and environmental impacts are as follows:
- Construction employment: approximately 3,000 construction workers at peak
- Long-term jobs: over 300 ongoing operational positions
- Infrastructure investment: about 6 million CAD in road and water infrastructure
- Annual fiscal contribution: approximately 250 million CAD in taxes, natural gas royalties, and industry fees
- Water design: closed-loop liquid cooling system using dry cooling, with annual water use below that of a typical golf course in Alberta; no water consumption beyond domestic use, fire safety, and equipment maintenance
- Environmental commitments: Meta aims to achieve water positive effects by 2030 and assist in protecting 200 acres of prairie, trees, and wetlands in the North Saskatchewan River basin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the investment amount for Meta's Alberta data center, and does it include AI chips?
According to Meta's official statement, the investment exceeds 13 billion CAD (about 9.2 billion USD), covering only the building itself. Enverus analyst Carson Kyle estimates that including AI chips and network equipment costs, the total expenditure could surpass 75 billion USD; this is a personal estimate, based on Meta's disclosed capital expenditure.
Who owns the Greenlight Electricity Center power plant, and does Meta hold shares?
Reports indicate that Greenlight Electricity Center is jointly owned by Pembina Pipeline, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor; Meta does not own the plant, only purchases its electricity. The plant is expected to be operational in the second half of 2030, with an investment of 4.6 billion USD.
How does Meta respond to environmental concerns about natural gas dependence and water use?
Meta's official statement commits to using 100% renewable energy certificates to offset electricity consumption and to selecting clean energy projects in Alberta to offset part of the energy needs. Regarding water, the data center employs a closed-loop liquid cooling system and dry cooling, with annual water use below that of a typical golf course in Alberta, and aims to achieve water-positive effects by 2030. The Pembina Institute's warnings about rising household electricity costs and the Alberta government’s responses are subject to official policy updates.
