Meta to Invest Over $9.1 Billion in Canada’s First AI Data Center, Its Largest Outside the U.S.

EDMONTON, Alberta — Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Wednesday that it will invest more than US$9.1 billion to construct its first artificial intelligence data center in Canada, which will also be its largest such facility outside the United States.

The new center will be located in Sturgeon County, Alberta, and will be powered by a natural gas-fired generating station developed by a consortium that includes Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Ltd.

Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish, described the initiative as “a big deal for Alberta,” noting that the province had established a regulatory framework designed to attract data center investment.

The province has been actively seeking hyperscale data centers amid soaring demand for AI infrastructure. However, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has raised concerns about the substantial electricity and water consumption of these facilities, as well as the pressure they place on power grids and local communities.

Since Alberta’s current electricity grid cannot accommodate multiple large AI data centers, the province is giving priority to projects that secure their own power generation — a condition Meta’s plan satisfies.

Meta stated that the data center will employ a closed-loop cooling system that does not withdraw water from local sources. Additionally, the company intends to invest US$42 million in regional infrastructure, such as roads and water systems.

Last week, Pembina Pipeline, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor Asset Management confirmed they would move forward with the Greenlight Electricity Center in Sturgeon County; Meta was revealed on Wednesday as the anchor customer. The 932-megawatt plant is anticipated to commence operations in the second half of 2030.

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