Meta data center boosts Alberta appeal for hyperscalers, Capital Power says

Meta Platforms is moving forward with plans to construct a C$13 billion ($9 billion) hyperscale data center in Alberta, marking its first major data center investment in Canada. The move is accelerating interest from major technology companies looking to expand their artificial intelligence compute capacity in the region. To support the massive energy requirements of the facility, Edmonton-based utility Capital Power has agreed to supply 250 megawatts of interim electricity until a dedicated natural gas-fired power station, developed in partnership with Pembina Pipeline, becomes operational in 2030. Alberta has emerged as an attractive hub for hyperscalers due to its abundant, low-cost natural gas reserves, available land, and cold climate, which lowers cooling expenses for supercomputers. However, the surge in data center development has raised domestic concerns over grid stability and localized utility costs. While the provincial government encourages private power generation to mitigate strain on the public grid, environmental think tanks and local residents have expressed wariness regarding supply pressures.