“Meta has a goal to be water-positive in 2030. That means we’ll restore more water than we actually consume in our local watersheds,” said Gary Demasi, Meta’s Vice President of Data Centre Strategy.
Provincial officials said the project is expected to generate approximately C$250 million annually through royalties, taxes, levies, and fees, while also supporting about C$60 million in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water systems. Construction is projected to create around 3,000 jobs at peak activity, with roughly 300 permanent positions once the facility begins operating.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the project as a significant investment for the province’s growing technology sector.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy, and Alberta is making sure we lead rather than follow. We created the right conditions to attract world-leading investments while protecting the interests of Albertans. This project will create thousands of jobs, generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue and make electricity more reliable and affordable,” Smith said.
Meta’s decision adds to the wave of hyperscale AI infrastructure spending as major technology companies expand computing capacity to support increasingly demanding AI models. Alberta has promoted itself as a destination for large-scale data center projects, citing its available industrial land, cool climate, and regulatory framework that allows operators to develop dedicated power infrastructure.
The project, however, has also drawn criticism from environmental organizations over its planned energy supply. Meta will partner with Pembina Pipeline’s planned Greenlight Electricity Centre, a natural gas-fired power facility, until renewable energy offsets are in place.
Environmental groups argue the province’s natural gas-heavy electricity grid could increase emissions as demand from AI infrastructure grows.
“We need a moratorium on mega-data centers until we have legislated environmental and human rights protections on AI,” said Keith Stewart, a strategist with Greenpeace Canada.
Meta said the facility is designed to reduce water consumption through its cooling system while continuing to pursue its long-term sustainability goals. Officials added that the site will include new power generation and transmission infrastructure as part of the overall investment.
The Alberta development expands Meta’s global data center network as the company continues investing in infrastructure to support AI services and computing capacity. It also represents a major milestone for Alberta’s effort to attract large-scale technology investments, even as debates over energy use, emissions, and grid capacity continue alongside the rapid buildout of AI infrastructure.
This analysis is based on reporting from msn.com.
Images courtesy of MediaPost.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
