Meta has revealed plans to construct a substantial one-gigawatt data center in the northeastern region of Edmonton, marking the tech giant’s inaugural venture of this scale in Canada. The company, renowned for its social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, disclosed in a press release on Wednesday that it will allocate over $13 billion towards the initiative, set to be situated in Sturgeon County.
Additionally, Meta has committed to a $60 million investment aimed at enhancing local infrastructure. The project is set to implement an advanced closed-loop, liquid-cooled system featuring “dry cooling” technology to eliminate the need for operational water consumption. The data center will be powered by a combination of grid electricity and onsite natural gas-generated power.
During a joint news conference in Calgary with Meta officials and Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed her optimism regarding the substantial economic benefits the Meta project is anticipated to bring to the province. She estimated that the initiative could generate a minimum of $250 million annually for Alberta.
Smith highlighted Alberta’s favorable conditions, such as its cool climate, skilled workforce, and expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), as key factors contributing to the industry’s interest in the region. She affirmed, “Alberta is well-positioned to emerge as a key player in the AI revolution on a global scale.”
Notably, Alberta passed legislation last autumn allowing data centers to self-generate power, reflecting the province’s proactive stance on facilitating such developments. Concerns surrounding the high water usage typically associated with data centers were addressed by Gary Demasi, Meta’s Vice President of Data Center Strategy and Development, who reassured that the project’s cooling systems would not require water.
Demasi emphasized Meta’s commitment to achieving water positivity by 2030, aiming to replenish more water than is consumed within local watersheds. The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs during the construction phase and sustain 300 positions once operational. The Sturgeon County data center will mark Meta’s 33rd facility of its kind.
While the exact operational commencement date has not been finalized, Demasi indicated that it is slated to begin operations within the coming years. Mark Daley, Chief AI Officer at Western University in Ontario, praised the significance of data centers as a pivotal economic driver in the 21st century, noting Canada’s ample energy resources make it an ideal location for such ventures.
Despite the promising outlook, not all stakeholders share the same enthusiasm for Alberta’s strategy, particularly the emphasis on self-power generation by project proponents. Concerns have been raised by David Pickup, Director of the Pembina Institute’s Electricity Program, regarding potential implications on consumer prices and energy demand dynamics.
Alberta’s Technology and Innovation Minister, Nate Glubish, defended the province’s approach, asserting that stringent regulatory frameworks have been established to ensure fairness, reasonability, and competitiveness in the industry. Glubish assured that any breaches of these regulations will be met with appropriate accountability measures.
