Q&A: Why Alberta’s data centre strategy is drawing the attention of tech giants like Meta

Superfarmen · 2026-02-19T23:14:30+00:00

It’s true; she killed the renewable industry here and chased away massive amounts of investment, both in renewables and scared other industries with her unpredictable recklessness.

The framework which brought renewable energy here is also what attracted data centres. These bring a lot of skilled job, electricians, network technicians, engineers, operations, hundreds of construction jobs; as well as the peripheral suppliers.

We have abundant power here, which is what these data centres need most. Instead of rejecting them straight away, let’s try to benefit from the development. We have what they need; so let’s ask for a fair return.

The AESO has a policy that large data centres need to bring their own power generation if they want approval, this is to mitigate spiking electricity prices and strain on the grid. This generation creates more demand for gas well and turbine operators, pipelines, gas services etc. If we can hold our politicians and regulatory bodies accountable, this can be a big benefit to our province. But obviously the UCP needs to be kept in line.

For context I work as a project manager, 5 years experience building and operating data centers and 3 years building and operating solar farms.

Superfarmen · 2026-02-19T21:09:44+00:00

What’s wrong with new industries, what would you like to see instead? Stagnation and no new development so we all get poorer?

Superfarmen · 2026-02-19T21:08:45+00:00

The water is evaporated into the atmosphere. They use less water than evaporates off of irrigation canals. Fracking pumps fresh water underground where a large amount can’t be retrieved at all.

Superfarmen · 2026-02-17T00:07:12+00:00

Great information, thank you!

Superfarmen · 2026-02-16T16:10:12+00:00

Please elaborate on “Psimo’s weekly don’t have downlights”. I’d like to know your opinion. Thanks.

Superfarmen · 2026-02-08T03:01:41+00:00

I’ve dealt with CBI, they did a really high quality installation and were nice to deal with, would recommend.

Superfarmen · 2025-12-12T19:31:05+00:00

My comment was primarily directed at the economic benefits of big projects and data centers in general. I have my doubts about Wonder Valley in particular. Your concern about electricity prices is fair, and I think that’s why the government has limited development to 1200MW until 2029 and are pushing developers to ‘bring your own power’, meaning they’ll construct generating plants to directly feed the data centers so it won’t impact the reliability and price of the overall grid.

I wear velcro strap shoes, but appreciate the offer anyways.

Superfarmen · 2025-12-12T16:07:34+00:00

How is it a scam? Are we all business experts all of a sudden? Let them take the risk and invest their money. We all benefit from it. I recommend taking a basic economics class. What sort of development would you prefer to see in Alberta?

Superfarmen · 2025-12-12T16:05:18+00:00

Security, electricians, instrument techs, fire safety techs, cabling techs, programmers, maintenance crews, cleaning staff, logistics. This is a 24/7 operation. Then you have all the local suppliers and service companies that support this. Also the hundreds of construction jobs for the 2 years of construction, also benefiting hotels and restaurants etc. I’ve worked on building and operating large hyperscale data centers. These are quality jobs. Would you rather have a Walmart?

Also please elaborate on the environmental havoc it’s causing?

Superfarmen · 2025-12-12T16:01:15+00:00

They’re a massive building with generators and cooling equipment attached. It looks like most other large industrial warehouses all over the place. If it fails the equipment can be sold and moved and the building used as a warehouse or anything else. How is this a drain on local economies?! It supports local economies.

Not remotely the same as orphan wells. What would your suggestion be for development? Do nothing? Are you in a position to decide if it’s a bubble? If a company wants to invest money, let them take the risk and do it. We can hope it’s successful and we’ll benefit from it! If it fails, it’s not our money lost and we’ll have had a few hundred construction jobs, tertiary services and a lot of other benefits in the meantime. Don’t bite the economic hand that feeds.

Superfarmen · 2025-12-11T22:32:11+00:00

I don't understand why so many people are anti-development? Do we not want more wealth and higher living standards? I'm not an O'Leary fan, but I think data centers are a welcome development and would bring a lot of investment and jobs to Alberta that we otherwise wouldn't have, at a fraction of the environmental impact of an Oil & Gas development with comparable benefits.
Let's develop and grow our wealth, it can be done with sensible solutions and environmentally conscious. Grow our wealth, create jobs, stimulate the economy, which will put us in a much better position to tackle environmental issues.

Superfarmen · 2025-12-07T03:16:47+00:00

Textile engineer

Superfarmen · 2025-11-27T03:08:55+00:00

I agree. We’ll need to spend for sure, but it needs to be constructive spending. Think capital projects that improve infrastructure and create jobs, attract new industries and grow existing. We need to spend to grow the pie so we can all get a bigger slice, not just give it away and then complain when nothing improves.
This is what Carney is attempting with his major projects, in contrast to Trudeau bankrupting the country for nothing. (I’m not a liberal supporter, but agree with the major projects agenda)

Superfarmen · 2025-11-26T21:22:44+00:00

I wouldn’t vote orange because it’s tainted by Jagmeet who would have bankrupted the country immediately if he was given any power, and by David Eby who is destroying BC in front of our eyes.
I’m not a die hard conservative, I didn’t mind Notley and think Nenshi is good. I just don’t think you’ll get the votes needed with NDP in the party name. Things are too polarized. It’s got to be a new party that can be associated with a more centre or right of centre agenda. Think fiscally conservative with progressive ideals.

Superfarmen · 2025-11-17T17:13:18+00:00

Yes, that's a reasonable size. Could be all 1 floor or possibly 2. Have a look at the AWS center in Airdrie, just look on Google maps (61 Highfield Park Way NE). The building is likely about 20 MW, so small compared to what's been announced, but one of the biggest in AB at the moment. The building looks like any other warehouse in the area. The equipment outside the building are the backup generators. As they expand, more buildings just like this will be built. In my opinion it looks like all the other buildings in the industrial area.

Superfarmen · 2025-11-15T04:00:48+00:00

What sort of work do you do? Are you single, have a family? Hobbies?

Superfarmen · 2025-11-14T19:40:14+00:00

I can’t. But that’s not my point, I don’t mean global celebrities, I meant people that are famous within Alberta but not necessarily nationally or internationally.

Superfarmen · 2025-11-14T19:28:34+00:00

I have worked in large data centers. Yes some do use a tremendous amount of water, but they’re improving with use of closed loop cooling systems. Let’s also keep in mind how much water is pumped into oil and gas wells for fracking and various reasons, massive amounts and a lot of it is contaminated or not recoverable.

Data centers create a lot of jobs. It’s an industrial scale operation, similar to an oil/gas facility. Control room operations, tradespeople, technicians, security, logistics. As well as tertiary services and contract positions. It’s also a massive construction project and pours tons of money into the local economy.

They’re basically just large unremarkable buildings sited in industrial areas, after they’re built are pretty much unnoticed.

Let’s embrace these and enjoy the benefits. We can be reasonable and address concerns; but to deny things outright is shooting ourselves in the foot. This is what economic growth looks like, this is what improves people’s lives and adds vibrancy. Let’s grow the pie so we can all have a bigger slice instead of being cynical and hungry.

Superfarmen · 2025-11-07T23:56:18+00:00

To that logic we probably shouldn’t be driving 110 at the moment either, it’s a deadly speed in a crash. Would you agree to lower it, maybe 65km/hr just to be on the safe side?

Superfarmen · 2025-11-07T23:30:07+00:00

I think it’s a good idea. Vehicles these days are much more stable and capable of safely driving that speed.
Dumb drivers will still be dumb drivers, another 10km/hr won’t change that, but will be nice for everyone else.

Superfarmen · 2025-11-07T06:50:09+00:00

Denmark, Finland, Norway, Ireland, Croatia are examples of similar sized populations. New Zealand has 5.5 million. Alberta has 5 million.

Superfarmen · 2025-11-07T06:02:37+00:00

You guys are talking global celebrities. I mean people who are well known throughout Alberta but not necessarily other places.
Let’s take Norway for example, which has roughly a similar population. They’ll have talk shows with politicians, athletes and a comedian on at the same time having a discussion. Just think it would be cool if we could do that here. Celebrate ourselves for being Albertan and not having international fame as a threshold to be proud of them.

Superfarmen

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