Canada's getting its first Meta data center, and it's built for AI

Meta has officially commenced construction on its inaugural AI data center in Canada, located in Sturgeon County, Alberta, near Edmonton. This landmark project represents a substantial investment exceeding CAD $13 billion (approximately USD $9 billion) and is set to deliver a powerful 1-gigawatt data center, as announced in a recent press release. The new facility, which will be Meta's 33rd data center worldwide, is specifically designed to enhance the company’s AI capabilities. Meta stated, "This data center will be optimized for our AI workloads, helping bring to life the technologies that billions around the world use to connect, find communities, grow businesses, and experience the power of our wearables." During peak construction, the project is anticipated to create over 3,000 jobs, with more than 300 operational positions available once completed. In addition to job creation, Meta plans to invest approximately CAD $60 million (around USD $42 million) in local infrastructure improvements. Details regarding the exact size of the Sturgeon County campus have not been disclosed. However, the facility will utilize an innovative closed-loop, liquid-cooled system with dry cooling, which avoids reliance on a continuous water supply for cooling purposes. Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw expressed her enthusiasm for the development, highlighting the positive impact it will have on the local economy through job creation and long-term tax revenue. "We're excited to work with our new neighbors as we continue to make that vision a reality," she stated. In contrast, Meta currently operates 28 data centers in the United States, including a large facility in Richland Parish, Louisiana, which is projected to be Meta's most extensive data center, boasting a footprint of 4 million square feet and over 2 gigawatts of compute capacity.