Meta Platforms will build a $13 billion data centre in Sturgeon County, north of Edmonton, Alberta. It is the largest private sector investment in Canadian history, announced by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Meta's Vice-President of Data Centres, Gary Demasi.
The project will employ 3,000 people during peak construction and create about 300 full-time operational jobs. It is expected to generate $250 million annually in royalties and taxes for Alberta.
Meta is investing $60 million in local infrastructure. The facility will be powered by natural gas from the new Project Green Light generation facility. Meta claims the data centre will use a closed-loop water cooling system, not drawing from local water sources.
The announcement comes amid a boom in data centre proposals across Canada, driven by artificial intelligence growth, which has sparked concerns over water use, pollution, and power costs. Some environmental groups have called for a moratorium until stronger protections are in place.
Premier Smith stated the site, within Alberta's Industrial Heartland, was designed for heavy industrial use. Residents near other proposed data centres have expressed concerns about transparency and unknown community impacts.