Meta to Establish $13 Billion AI Data Centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta

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Meta announces its plan to construct a significant AI data centre in Alberta, marking its first in Canada and largest outside the U.S., with a $13 billion investment.

CALGARY, ALTA. — Meta, the tech giant behind platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, has unveiled plans to establish its first artificial intelligence data centre in Canada, which will also be its largest facility outside the United States. The announcement was made on Wednesday, revealing that the $13 billion-plus project will be located in Sturgeon County, situated in the Industrial Heartland region north of Edmonton.
This ambitious data centre is designed to have a capacity of one gigawatt and will be powered by a natural gas-fired plant constructed by a consortium that includes Pembina Pipeline Ltd., based in Calgary. The construction of the data centre will be undertaken by a joint venture named Frost Collective, formed by PCL Construction and Clark Builders, with additional support from an integrated project team that includes Stantec and SLB.
Gary Demasi, vice-president of data centre strategy and development at Meta, expressed the company's commitment to the local community during a news conference in Calgary. He stated, "We believe that the success of a data centre is only possible when the community itself succeeds along with it. More than that, we want Sturgeon County and Alberta to thrive." He emphasized Meta's intention to build a strong partnership with the community for years to come.
Data centres are vital for housing the computing hardware necessary for various technological applications. With the rapid expansion of the artificial intelligence sector, these facilities have reached unprecedented scales, often demanding enough electricity to power entire cities. However, this explosive growth has raised concerns regarding water consumption, pollution, and the accessibility and cost of power for nearby communities.
In response to these challenges, Meta has committed to implementing a closed-loop water cooling system for the data centre, ensuring that it will not draw water from the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the company plans to invest $60 million to enhance local infrastructure, including improvements to roads and water systems.
Alberta is actively seeking to attract large-scale tech companies, known as hyperscalers, to establish data centres in the province. To facilitate this process, the government has created a “concierge” service aimed at helping navigate regulatory requirements. Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish indicated that Alberta aims to have $100 billion in data centres under construction within the next five years. However, the province's current electricity grid lacks the capacity to support multiple large-scale projects simultaneously, prompting a focus on initiatives that develop or contract their own power generation, similar to Meta's plans.
Minister Glubish described Meta's announcement as a significant milestone for Alberta, asserting, "We didn’t do it by accident. We did it by design. We did in a way that is going to benefit Albertans." He further elaborated on the importance of having a clear regulatory framework for prospective data centre developers, ensuring that local interests are safeguarded and that the community can benefit from such investments.
The mayor of Sturgeon County, Alanna Hnatiw, remarked on the county's emerging role in Canada's AI and power corridor, highlighting the opportunities and responsibilities that come with it. She expressed satisfaction that Meta adheres to the environmental standards set within their designated industrial zone and appreciates their commitment to responsible land stewardship.
Last week, Pembina Pipeline, along with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Kineticor Asset Management, announced the advancement of their Greenlight Electricity Centre project in Sturgeon County, which was previously undisclosed as a customer for their power supply. This electricity project is expected to have a capacity of 932 megawatts and an estimated construction cost of $4.6 billion, with operations anticipated to commence in the latter half of 2030. The consortium holds permits that would allow them to potentially double this capacity in the future.
However, concerns have been raised by Keith Stewart, a senior energy strategist with Greenpeace Canada, who has called for a moratorium on large-scale data centres until stronger environmental and human rights protections are legislated for the AI sector. He criticized the promises made by proponents of AI data centres around the world, suggesting that they often mask the negative impacts on local communities, including water depletion, air pollution, and job losses.

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