Meta is constructing a 1 GW data centre in Alberta to support its artificial intelligence and data-processing operations [1].
The project highlights the growing tension between the massive energy demands of AI and provincial climate goals. As tech giants expand their physical footprints, the methods used to power these facilities face increasing scrutiny from environmental experts.
The facility will be powered by a natural-gas-fired plant [1]. Despite the use of fossil fuels for generation, Meta said the electricity will be 100% clean through the use of renewable-energy certificates [1].
Critics have labeled this claim as green-washing. Martin Boucher, the research chair in sustainability at NorQuest College, said he has concerns regarding the actual environmental impact of the facility [1].
The Alberta provincial government said Meta will be responsible for paying for its own power, infrastructure, and environmental requirements [2]. This arrangement is intended to ensure the project does not impose costs on the public electricity system [2].
However, some critics argue the data centre will still strain Alberta’s electricity grid [1]. The debate centers on whether a private power agreement can fully insulate the public grid from the pressures of a 1 GW load, a significant amount of energy for any single site.
Meta has not provided further details on the specific timeline for completion, but the project remains a focal point for energy policy discussions in the province this month [1].
“The facility will be powered by a natural-gas-fired plant.”
This development underscores a systemic conflict in the AI boom: the immediate need for reliable, high-capacity baseload power versus the long-term goal of decarbonization. By relying on renewable-energy certificates to offset gas-fired power, Meta is using a financial mechanism to meet sustainability targets without changing the physical energy source. For Alberta, the project tests whether the province can attract big tech investment without compromising its grid stability or environmental commitments.
