Alberta is the main focus for near-term natural-gas power dedicated to AI and high-performance computing data centers, under a bring-your-own-generation model. Most large projects are still proposed or in permitting; only a few have final investment decisions, construction contracts, or offtake agreements. Alberta’s marketable gas supply is about 11.5 Bcf/d (2025) and still in surplus through 2027. The AI-linked gas plants below, even if all were built, would burn well under 1 Bcf/d. There are about 6 gigawatts of fairly firm ai data center projects but canada.
A realistic ceiling this decade is single-digit GW of new gas-fired AI load in Alberta, led by Greenlight’s 0.9 GW in 2030 and whatever clears AUC and turbine queues. 40 GW would be a 2035 industrial program if hyperscalers sign long-term gas and power contracts and turbine makers add capacity. The basin can feed it. Nothing in the 2027–2030 queue is currently on that path.
Natural gas needed for different AI levels.
40 GW baseload ≈ 6–7 Bcf/d
80 GW ≈ 12–13 Bcf/d
Western Canada already produced a record ~19.1 Bcf/d in 2025 (Alberta ~11.4–11.5, BC ~7.4). Alberta alone used ~7.4 Bcf/d in-province. Adding 6–7 Bcf/d for 40 GW is doable.
Meta is building its first big Canadian data center in the province of Alberta, an attractive spot for development due to the hefty amount of available energy and friendly regulatory environment. It’s Meta’s 33rd data center overall and the latest in the company’s effort to rapidly build out to meet demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure and services. The location for the site, in Sturgeon County, has long been zoned for industrial use and is in an area with the capacity for additional energy infrastructure. Meta said it worked with various energy firms in Canada, including Greenlight Limited Partnership, Altalink, Capitol Power and the Alberta Electric System Operator, to plan for and meet our energy needs years in advance of this data center coming online.
The 1 gigawatt facility will cost Meta about $9 billion and take two to three years to build.
Saskatchewan has a large gas-backed concept that is still non-binding.
Ontario’s first small modular reactor is under construction for grid supply around 2030 but is not contracted to a specific AI campus.
Advanced / funded projects with offtake
Greenlight Electricity Centre (for Meta) — Sturgeon County, Alberta (Industrial Heartland, north of Edmonton)
– 932 MW combined-cycle natural gas, permitted to expand to 1,864 MW. Siemens Energy SGT6-8000H turbines. ~150 MMcf/d gas.
– Target in-service: second half of 2030.
– Stage: Final investment decision July 2026. major regulatory approvals in hand; ~85% of capital costs under fixed-price agreements. Engineering, procurement and construction awarded to TRA (Aecon majority with Técnicas Reunidas); Aecon’s share ~C$1.7 billion. Gas delivery via Pembina’s Alliance Heartland Expansion (target Q4 2029) and TC Energy’s NGTL.
– Cost: ~C$4.6 billion (including financing). Pembina Pipeline share ~C$2.3 billion. partners Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and Kineticor Asset Management.
– Contracts: Long-term tolling / dedicated-capacity agreement with Meta for the initial 932 MW. Meta’s adjacent campus is a >C$13 billion (reports also cite ~US$9–10 billion+) AI data center, initially ~1 GW and scalable toward ~1.8 GW; construction started July 2026. Interim supply: Capital Power long-term (>10-year) contract for 250 MW from its existing Alberta fleet starting second half of 2028. Meta also has an AESO Phase 1 load allocation around 970 MW.
Bitdeer Fox Creek — Municipal District of Greenview, Alberta (near Fox Creek)
– ~101 MW on-site natural gas plant paired with ~100 MW computing capacity (bring-your-own-generation. also ~99 MW grid interconnection for export/curtailment).
– Target energization: Q2 2027.
– Stage: Ground broken June 2026. Site and permitted gas project acquired from Kiwetinohk Energy in 2025.
– Funding: Bitdeer; project cost cited at ~US$155 million / C$214 million. Initially Bitcoin mining, designed with flexibility for AI/HPC. Carbon-capture utilization planned.
– Details: [Data Center Dynamics](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bitdeer-breaks-ground-on-natural-gas-plant-and-data-center-in-alberta-canada/).
Proposed / permitting-stage gas projects aimed at 2027–2029
Mihta Askiy Data Center power station — Northern Sunrise County, ~40 km northeast of Peace River, Alberta
– ~650 MW natural gas (simple-cycle then combined-cycle). Global Energy Monitor lists Phase 1 gas turbines (~2 × 230 MW) planned 2027 and a ~250 MW steam turbine planned 2029 (pre-construction).
– Stage: Proposed. Federal Impact Assessment Agency early decision (March/April 2026) that no further federal assessment is required. Led by Cree Ative Datacenter Corp GP / Mihta Askiy Datacenter LP (Woodland Cree-linked / Sovereign Digital Infrastructure partnership). Alberta Major Projects lists schedule commencing 2027.
– Details: [IAAC project page](https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/90036), [Alberta Major Projects](https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/details/Mihta-Askiy-Data-Centre/12097), [Global Energy Monitor](https://www.gem.wiki/Mihta_Askiy_Data_Center_Project_power_station).
Northern Forge (Teton Digital) — Greenview, ~35 km south of Fox Creek
– 200 MW behind-the-meter natural gas for on-site compute (and grid sales). Developer site: Phase I (~30 MW) H1 2027, 100 MW+ by end-2027, full 200 MW in 2028.
– Stage: Proposed. Alberta Major Projects: completion by 2028, estimated cost C$500 million. Developer says EPEA, Water Act and Indigenous consultation largely complete; AUC application under evaluation; gas supply and pipeline under LOI.
– Details: [Teton Digital](https://www.tetondigital.io/northern-forge), [Alberta Major Projects](https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/details/Teton-Digital-Northern-Forge-Power-Project/12178).
Black Bear Power Project (Teton Digital) — near Swan Hills, Alberta
– ~466 MW natural-gas combined cycle, with adjacent land for data-center development (pathway described toward multi-GW campuses).
– Stage: Proposed. Local reporting cites ~C$1.3 billion and completion target Q3 2028.
– Details: [XM 105 / local report](https://xm105fm.com/2026/07/14/power-generation-facilities-planned-for-swan-hills-and-fox-creek-regions/).
Beacon AI hubs (Beacon Data Centers / related generation LPs)
– Indus (Rocky View County): ~1,494 MW natural-gas thermal plant proposed to supply ~1,200 MW co-located data halls. AUC oral hearing held August 2026 (Proceeding 30524); decision pending as of mid-September 2026. Federal early decision of no further IAAC review. Proponent has cited a possible Q3 2027 initial-operation target, subject to approvals.
– Heartland (Sturgeon County): ~800–920 MW class gas-engine plant for data halls. AUC written record closed July 2026; decision expected by late October 2026. Proponent has cited fall 2027 initial operations, subject to approvals.
– Stage: Applications under Alberta Utilities Commission review; not FID.
Bell AI Fabric — Rural Municipality of Sherwood (near Regina), Saskatchewan
– Original ~300 MW campus draws provincial grid power; first stage targeted first half of 2027 (customers have included CoreWeave and Cerebras).
– September 2026 non-binding MOU with the Saskatchewan government for phased expansion of up to 900 MW more, supplied by partner-developed natural gas (path to ~1.2 GW). Full build-out capital (data centers, tenant compute, and power) described as potentially exceeding C$50–52.5 billion.
– Stage: Expansion is an MOU only—contingent on customer commitments, commercial agreements, permits. No named gas-plant partner, FID, or construction contract disclosed for the 900 MW.
Large early-stage concept
Wonder Valley (O’Leary Digital) — Greenview Industrial Gateway, Municipal District of Greenview
Proposed AI data-center park often cited at ~7.5 GW, with associated gas generation discussed in the multi-gigawatt range (one court filing reference to a ~9 GW plant) and lifetime investment figures around C$70 billion.
Stage Proposed. a href=”https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/industrial-designation-wonder-valley-greenview-9.7331708″> Industrial Gateway received a special industrial-zone designation in 2026. Provincial EIA not required under the description reviewed. water licence and Indigenous consultation are in court (Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation judicial review ongoing as of late 2026). No public FID, turbine contracts, or firm 2027–2030 energization date.
Other power relevant to 2027 to 2030
Darlington New Nuclear Project (Ontario Power Generation) — Clarington, Ontario
First of four GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs (~300 MW each. ~1,200 MW total).
Unit 1 under construction (licence to construct April 2025. basemat installed 2026). Target commercial operation ~2030 if schedule holds.
Funding/contracts: Unit 1 budget ~C$7.7 billion. four-unit estimate ~C$20.9 billion. Canada Growth Fund up to C$2 billion and Building Ontario Fund up to C$1 billion equity-style support. Williams Treaties First Nations ~C$700 million equity partnership announced 2026. This is grid supply, not a dedicated behind-the-meter AI offtake.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
