Meta Plants $9 Billion Flag in Alberta with First Canadian Data Center

Meta is bringing its AI infrastructure push north of the border. The company announced Wednesday it will build its first Canadian data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta - a 1-gigawatt facility expected to cost roughly $9 billion and take two to three years to complete. The project, Meta's 33rd data center globally, is the latest in a rapid expansion to support growing demand for artificial intelligence services.

Alberta's appeal lies in its abundant energy supply and business-friendly regulations. The Sturgeon County site has long been zoned for industrial use and offers room for additional energy infrastructure. Meta says it has been working with local energy firms - including Greenlight Limited Partnership, Altalink, Capitol Power, and the Alberta Electric System Operator - to secure power well ahead of the facility's launch. At peak construction, the project will employ over 3,000 workers and include investments in local roads, utilities, and nonprofit groups.

The news comes as Meta faces investor skepticism over its massive spending plans - up to $145 billion in capital expenditures this year - while it trails AI leaders like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Meta's stock has dropped about 9% in 2025, even as the broader Nasdaq rose 11%. The company is also exploring a new cloud business that could sell excess capacity or host third-party AI models, though its revenue remains heavily tied to advertising. Meanwhile, local concerns persist: a CBC report last June flagged potential environmental impacts from data centers, including emissions, water use, and noise. Meta says it has worked closely with community partners to address those issues.

Source: CNBC