EDMONTON — Alberta’s Technology Minister Nate Glubish says he’s hoping to see $100 billion worth of artificial intelligence data centres under construction within the next five years.

Such centres are filled with computer servers used by companies like Meta to develop and train large-scale artificial intelligence models.

Glubish says Meta, as well as other major companies including Google and Amazon, are on the hunt for space to build more facilities, and he wants Alberta to be an option.

He says landing some data centres would create jobs and bring in much needed new tax revenue for the province.

Glubish also says that since Alberta’s electricity grid regulations allows for off-grid power generation, he thinks the province is an ideal location.

He says allowing for off-grid power connections where power generators supply data centres directly also means there’s less risk for Albertans, as there wouldn’t be major drains on the electrical grid.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press