Meta's data centre north of Edmonton is set to start operations ahead of the adjacent Greenlight power plant that will supply it with energy, the company announced. The facility, located in Sturgeon County, Alberta, will begin processing data in the coming weeks, while the power plant is still under construction and expected to be completed later this year.
Data centre to launch before power plant
The Meta data centre will initially draw electricity from the provincial grid until the Greenlight power plant is operational. Once complete, the natural gas-fired plant will provide dedicated power to the facility, supporting Meta's growing cloud computing and AI infrastructure needs.
“This project represents a significant investment in Alberta's technology sector,” said a Meta spokesperson in a statement. “We are committed to powering our operations with reliable energy while we transition to renewable sources over time.”
Economic impact and local reactions
The data centre and power plant have created hundreds of construction jobs and will employ dozens of permanent staff. Local officials have welcomed the development as a boost to the regional economy.
“This is a win for Sturgeon County and for Alberta,” said Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw. “The Meta data centre and Greenlight plant will bring jobs and investment while positioning our community as a hub for digital infrastructure.”
However, some environmental groups have criticized the project for relying on natural gas rather than renewable energy. The Greenlight plant is expected to produce up to 150 megawatts of power, contributing to Alberta's greenhouse gas emissions.
Background on the project
Meta first announced plans for the data centre in 2024, citing Alberta's competitive energy costs and business-friendly environment. The adjacent power plant, developed by Greenlight Energy Solutions, is designed to meet the facility's high electricity demand. The data centre will house servers for Facebook, Instagram, and other Meta platforms, as well as AI computing resources.
