Meta has announced a $13-billion data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta, marking the company's first data centre in Canada and its 33rd globally. The one-gigawatt, AI-optimized facility will power Meta's AI innovations and core products, located on land near Highway 825 and Highway 643 that has been zoned for heavy industrial use for decades.
From Farmland to High-Tech Hub
For years, farmers leased the land for crops like potatoes, sod, canola, wheat, and barley. However, the area was already designated for heavy industry, part of the Industrial Heartland across from Fort Saskatchewan. Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw noted that the land was depopulated years ago when the zoning and area structure plan were implemented. "People drive by — they might not know what the zoning is on land because much of it has been rented to farmers... but it was zoned heavy industrial," she said.
Massive Investment and Job Creation
Meta will invest $60 million upfront in infrastructure, including roads and water lines, to prepare 1,900 acres (about three square miles) of the Heartland's 193 square miles. The construction phase is expected to create 3,000 jobs, with 300 permanent positions once operational. The facility will be Canada's largest data centre, generating significant annual tax revenue from the assessed value of the improved property — far more than agricultural use.
"Those are a lot of primary investments, and then those will have spinoff effects to labourers, small businesses, service providers, and then just the general economy to have that kind of money moving through the region," Hnatiw said.
No Tax Breaks Required
Unlike some petrochemical projects, Meta has not requested tax breaks or incentives from the county. Hnatiw explained that while incentives were historically needed to compete with other markets, the data centre's value proposition was strong enough without them. "Historically, we needed that to be competitive with other comparator markets, but that was not the case with the data centre. We have a very strong value proposition," she said.
Regional Economic Impact
The Sturgeon County region, covering 2,000 square kilometers with rolling hills, farms, and hamlets, has already seen $40 billion in industrial investment over the past 25 years. The new data centre adds to this legacy, promising long-term economic benefits for labourers, small businesses, and service providers. The project underscores Alberta's growing appeal for high-tech investments, leveraging its energy infrastructure and strategic location.
