Calgary 
Meta is planning to build its first Canadian data centre in Alberta, a project the province describes as one of the largest private-sector investments in Canadian history.
Credit: Meta
The proposed Sturgeon County facility represents more than $13 billion in investment. According to the news release, it is expected to create more than 3,000 construction jobs and support 300 operational jobs once built. The province also says the project will generate about $250 million each year for Albertans through royalties, taxes, levies and fees. Meta is also putting about $60 million into local infrastructure, including roads and water systems.
Per Meta, the planned 1 GW data center in Sturgeon County will be the 33rd in its global fleet.
Premier Danielle Smith linked the announcement to Alberta’s ambitions in artificial intelligence, saying the province wants to lead as AI reshapes the global economy. She said the project would create jobs, bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue and support more reliable, affordable electricity.
Alberta says large AI data centres must bring their own power, pay for the infrastructure they need and meet environmental and water requirements. In Meta’s case, the data centre will combine grid-connected electricity with new on-site natural gas generation. The province says Meta will fully fund the new generation and grid infrastructure needed for the project.
Project Greenlight, involving Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Kineticor, is a $4.6-billion, 970MW natural gas-fired electricity generation facility. It also says this arrangement could reduce transmission costs on Albertans’ electricity bills by up to 6 percent.
Pembina CEO Scott Burrows said dedicated gas-to-power infrastructure could become a new growth platform while increasing demand for Western Canadian natural gas.
Water use is another detail the province is emphasizing. Meta’s Sturgeon Data Centre is planned with a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system using dry cooling, which the province says requires no operational water use for cooling. Water use would be limited to domestic needs, fire protection and equipment maintenance, with approvals subject to Alberta’s Water Act.
Meta’s Gary Demasi said Sturgeon County was chosen for its infrastructure, energy access, workforce and community partners.
Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw welcomed the project, saying the community has spent more than 20 years “balancing responsible development in the Heartland” while supporting quality of life, competitive taxation and long-term local benefits.
