Meta investing $13 billion in massive data centre northeast of Edmonton
The Sturgeon County facility will generate over 3,000 construction jobs and 300 permanent positions, with Alberta projecting $250 million annual benefits.
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Meta announced Wednesday it will invest more than $13 billion in a one-gigawatt data centre in Sturgeon County, just north of Edmonton — the company's first in Canada and a landmark investment for the province.
The Sturgeon Data Centre will operate under Alberta's "bring your own power" model for large AI data centres, requiring companies to supply their own electricity, pay for related infrastructure, and meet strict environmental and water-use standards. Meta plans to use a mix of grid power and new on-site natural-gas generation to reduce pressure on Alberta's electricity system.
The province projects the project will generate roughly $250 million annually in provincial benefits through royalties, taxes, levies, and fees. Meta will contribute $60 million toward local road and water infrastructure improvements.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joined Meta officials and Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw for a news conference in Calgary to announce the project. "Artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy, and Alberta is making sure we lead rather than follow," Smith said.
The data centre is tied to Project Greenlight, a $4.6-billion, 970-megawatt natural gas-fired electricity generation facility announced last week by Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor.
The province says because of Meta's contribution to transmission costs, Alberta ratepayers could see up to a six per cent decrease on the transmission portion of their electricity bills. The facility will use a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system with dry cooling to eliminate operational water use. Construction is expected to create over 3,000 jobs, with 300 permanent positions once operational.
