Meta to Invest $9 Billion in Alberta's First AI Data Center

WHO:

ABC News - Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish described the project as “a big deal for Alberta.”

ABC News - Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

ABC News - Nate Glubish, Alberta's Technology and Innovation Minister.

ABC News - Pembina Pipeline Ltd., Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, Kineticor Asset Management.

WHAT:

TechRadar - The facility is predicted to create about 300 operational jobs once completed.

Techmeme - Meta's AI data center in Alberta will cost the company about $9 billion and is expected to take two to three years to construct.

ABC News - Meta's data center in Alberta will be powered by a natural gas-fired plant being developed by a consortium that includes Pembina Pipeline Ltd., Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor Asset Management.

Techmeme - The data center is expected to take two to three years to construct.

ABC News - Meta's data center in Alberta will be its largest outside the United States.

ABC News - The facility will be powered by a natural gas-fired plant being developed by a consortium that includes Pembina Pipeline Ltd.

Techmeme - The data center is expected to take two to three years to construct.

ABC News - Meta will invest more than 13 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $9.1 billion) to build its first artificial intelligence data center in Canada.

Techmeme - The data center will be a 1GW facility in Alberta and is expected to take two to three years to construct.

ABC News - Meta plans to invest US$42 million in local infrastructure, including roads and water systems.

WHERE:

ABC News - The data center will be built in Sturgeon County, Alberta.

WHEN:

ABC News - The 932-megawatt power plant associated with the data center is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2030.

ABC News - The 932-megawatt power plant, associated with the data center, is expected to begin operating in the second half of 2030.

WHY:

ABC News - Alberta has been courting hyperscale data centers as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure surges.

ABC News - Alberta is prioritizing projects that build or secure their own power generation due to the limitations of the electricity grid to support multiple large AI data centers.

ABC News - Alberta has created a regulatory framework to attract data center investment amid surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

ABC News - Concerns about the vast amounts of electricity and water required by AI facilities and their impact on power grids and communities have prompted Alberta to prioritize projects that secure their own power generation.

HOW:

ABC News - The data center will use a closed-loop cooling system that won’t draw water from surrounding sources.

ABC News - The data center will use a closed-loop cooling system that will not draw water from surrounding sources.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 19:24 UTC)

A new facility is set to create approximately 300 operational jobs once it is completed. This development has been reported by TechRadar. The project is expected to significantly boost local employment opportunities.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 17:38 UTC)

Meta is set to invest approximately $9 billion in a new AI data center in Alberta, which is expected to take two to three years to complete. This move comes as Alberta actively seeks to attract hyperscale data centers amid a growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Notably, the facility will feature a closed-loop cooling system designed to avoid using water from nearby sources.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 06:20 UTC)

Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish has announced that Meta's new data center in Alberta is a significant development for the region. The facility will be powered by a 932-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant, which is being developed by a consortium that includes Pembina Pipeline Ltd., Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor Asset Management, and is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2030. Construction of the data center is projected to take two to three years, and it will feature a closed-loop cooling system that won’t draw water from nearby sources.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 00:22 UTC)

Meta is set to build its largest data center outside the United States in Alberta, powered by a natural gas-fired plant developed by a consortium that includes Pembina Pipeline Ltd. The construction of this facility is expected to take two to three years, as Alberta focuses on projects that enhance local power generation to support the growing demand from large AI data centers. Additionally, the data center will feature a closed-loop cooling system that won’t draw water from nearby sources, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 23:20 UTC)

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to invest over 13 billion Canadian dollars, or about 9.1 billion dollars, to construct its first artificial intelligence data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta. This 1-gigawatt facility is expected to take two to three years to build and will include a 932-megawatt power plant that aims to begin operations in the second half of 2030. In addition to the data center, Meta plans to invest 42 million dollars in local infrastructure, while utilizing a closed-loop cooling system that will not draw water from nearby sources.