Meta Secretly Gathered Alberta Data Centre Land in $300M Deal
Meta assembled a 1,754-acre data centre site in Alberta through three land transfers on Feb. 6, according to records reviewed by Connect. The transactions moved 17 titles in Sturgeon County to Vibro Information Services for a registered value of about $300.1M, with Suncor Energy and Pembina Pipeline among the sellers. Meta later announced its first Canadian data centre, a $13B campus, in July and expects operations to begin in 2028.
Records show Meta’s Alberta site was assembled on Feb. 6 through three transfers involving 17 titles in Sturgeon County. The parcels went to Vibro Information Services, with a registered value near $300.1M. Suncor Energy, Pembina Pipeline and a Pembina-linked entity were sellers. The largest tract, roughly 957 acres, was valued at $163.7M; Suncor’s 637 acres at $109M; Pembina’s 160 acres at $27.4M.
Vibro had existed for about six months and listed Stikeman Elliott’s Calgary office. Meta was absent from the filings. Stikeman later said it advised Meta on buying nearly 2,000 acres, approvals for foreign ownership and development and servicing arrangements. Pembina also joined Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Kineticor on the adjacent 932-MW Greenlight Electricity Centre, contracted to serve Meta’s campus.
The development could affect Sturgeon County residents, local businesses and Alberta’s electricity system. Construction and tax revenue may bring economic benefits, while heavier demand for power, roads and services could strain nearby communities. Energy firms may gain a long-term customer, but ratepayers and residents might see changing utility or land-use pressures. Because the campus may operate before Greenlight is scheduled, grid reliability and infrastructure timing could shape local outcomes.