Meta plans first Canadian data centre in Alberta

Meta (META) announced on July 8, 2026 that it will construct its first data centre in Canada in Sturgeon County, Alberta. The project expands the company’s global data-centre fleet and marks a significant new technology investment in Alberta’s industrial region.

The facility is planned as a 1-gigawatt data-centre campus, adding substantial computing capacity to support Meta’s platforms. The site in Sturgeon County is in an area already zoned for industrial use and positioned to accommodate additional energy infrastructure.

Recent reports describe the capital cost of the Alberta data centre in the range of about $9 billion to around $10 billion. While the precise figure differs between outlets, coverage consistently characterizes the project as a multi‑billion‑dollar build over a multi‑year construction period.

The campus is located within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, where existing infrastructure and available energy capacity were key selection factors. Meta said the location met its typical criteria, including access to a robust electric grid, necessary infrastructure, a strong labor pool, and supportive community partners.

The development is expected to support a large construction workforce at peak and create ongoing operating roles once the site is complete. Meta also highlighted planned investments in local infrastructure and funding for local nonprofits as part of the project.

To meet the extensive power needs of the 1-gigawatt data-centre campus, Meta is financing new electricity generation and grid infrastructure. The company worked with local energy firms in advance to structure an energy solution tailored to Alberta’s regulatory environment.

Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor announced a positive final investment decision for the Greenlight Electricity Centre. This project is a 932 megawatt gas‑fired combined‑cycle power facility designed to provide behind‑the‑meter power for Meta’s Alberta data centre.

The Greenlight Electricity Centre is intended to deliver large‑scale, reliable electricity directly to the data-centre campus. Its behind‑the‑meter configuration is structured to align with Meta’s plans to secure dedicated power while also integrating with Alberta’s broader energy system through new connections that Meta is funding.

The Alberta data centre is positioned to become a major new anchor for technology and energy investment in Sturgeon County. Meta’s commitment to fund power generation, grid upgrades, and community initiatives underscores the scale and long‑term nature of the project.

By pairing a 1-gigawatt computing campus with a 932 megawatt dedicated power plant, the development links digital infrastructure growth directly with new energy infrastructure. This combination highlights how large‑scale data-centre projects are increasingly tied to bespoke power arrangements in energy‑intensive regions.