Meta is investing more than $13 billion to build its first Canadian data centre in Alberta, marking one of the largest private-sector investments in the country’s history.
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The tech giant’s new facility will be located in Sturgeon County, just north of Edmonton within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. The massive project is expected to create more than 3,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent operational roles, while generating roughly $250 million annually for the province through taxes, royalties, and fees.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy, and Alberta is making sure we lead rather than follow,” Premier Danielle Smith said in a press conference Wednesday.
Under the province’s recently implemented “bring your own power” guidelines for major artificial intelligence data centres, Meta is required to fully fund its own on-site natural gas generation alongside its grid connection. Provincial officials say this framework will shield the local power grid from added strain and actually reduce transmission costs for Alberta ratepayers by up to 6 per cent.
The data centre’s power needs will be supported in partnership with Project Greenlight, a $4.6-billion, 970-megawatt natural gas-fired electricity facility announced last week by Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor.
In addition to energy commitments, Meta will inject approximately $60 million into local infrastructure upgrades, including roads and water systems. To address potential environmental and resource concerns, the company noted the Sturgeon Data Centre will utilize a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system with dry cooling, requiring zero operational water use for cooling.
Gary Demasi, Meta’s vice-president of data centre strategy and development, said Sturgeon County was chosen for its strong access to infrastructure, energy, and a talented workforce.
Provincial guidelines state that the facility must be built on previously developed industrial land to ensure the project avoids encroaching on local agricultural areas.
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