# Meta to build first AI data center in Canada, largest outside US > Source: > Published: 2026-07-09 20:18:00+00:00 # Meta to build first AI data center in Canada, largest outside US [Meta](https://qazinform.com/tag/meta), the parent company of Facebook and [Instagram](https://qazinform.com/tag/instagram), [announced](https://x.com/MetaNewsroom/status/2074943556750311551) Wednesday that it will invest more than $9.1 billion to construct its first artificial intelligence data center in [Canada](https://qazinform.com/tag/canada) - and its largest outside the United States, [Qazinform News Agenc](https://qazinform.com/)y reports. The facility will be built in Sturgeon County, Alberta, supported by a natural-gas-fired power plant developed by a consortium that includes Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Ltd. ``` “The project represents an investment of more than $13 billion Canadian dollars and will support over 3,000 construction workers at peak and more than 300 operational jobs,” the company’s statement reads. ``` Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Nate Glubish, hailed the project as “a big deal for Alberta”, noting that the province has established a regulatory framework designed to attract large-scale data center investments. Because Alberta’s grid cannot accommodate multiple massive AI centers, the province is prioritizing projects that secure or build their own power generation – a requirement Meta’s plan fulfills. To address environmental concerns, Meta said the new center will employ a closed-loop cooling system that avoids drawing water from local sources. The company also pledged $43 million in local infrastructure investments, including upgrades to roads and water systems. Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that Meta [had launched](https://qazinform.com/news/meta-launches-new-ai-powered-smart-glasses-starting-at-299-cea12e) a new AI-powered smart glasses.