Meta斥90億美元加拿大建資料中心 美國境外最大

(Central News Agency, Toronto, Canada, July 8th, Foreign News)Meta announced today its plan to build a data center in Alberta, western Canada, with an investment of US$9 billion (approximately NT$289.1 billion). Local officials called it one of the largest private investments in Canadian history.

According to Agence France-Presse, Gary Demasi, Meta's Vice President of Data Center Development, announced the news alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary, stating that this facility will be Meta's largest data center outside of the United States.

Smith said, "Alberta is an ideal location for building data centers in North America, with affordable electricity prices, flexible power generation methods, cooler climate, and a skilled workforce." She also pointed out, "The global competition for computing power is intensifying at an unprecedented rate."

The data center, located in Sturgeon County, Alberta, is expected to cover an area of approximately 269,419 square meters. Smith stated that this project will create thousands of Canadian jobs and bring approximately US$175 million (approximately NT$5.6 billion) in economic benefits to Albertans annually.

Smith told reporters, "This is one of the largest private investments in Canadian history." Smith, wearing a cowboy hat, was celebrating the ongoing annual event, the Calgary Stampede.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is currently investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), and AI operations require data centers to support them. In recent years, spending on data center construction in the United States has risen sharply, with tech companies investing tens of billions of dollars to expand infrastructure in order to gain a lead in the AI race.

However, public backlash is also growing. Critics point out that data centers consume a large amount of electricity, which can burden local power grids and drive up electricity costs. Additionally, they consume a large amount of water, generate noise, and create relatively limited job opportunities. (Intern reporter: Lu Shih-ting / Editor: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150709

Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom

Download the Central News Agency "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates

The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.