Meta building its first Canadian data centre northeast of Edmonton

Meta building its first Canadian data centre northeast of Edmonton

Technology giant investing more than $13 billion in project

Meta was revealed Wednesday as the proponent of a data centre in Sturgeon County, northeast of Edmonton.

In a news release issued Wednesday, the company behind social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram said it will invest more than $13 billion in the one-gigawatt project.

Meta is also promising to invest $60 million to improve local infrastructure.

The company said the project will use a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system with “dry cooling” to eliminate operational water use.

Meta says the data centre will be its first in Canada.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joined Meta officials and Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw for a news conference held in Calgary to make the announcement.

Michelle Bellefontaine covers the Alberta legislature for CBC News in Edmonton. She has also worked as a reporter in the Maritimes and in northern Canada.