Alberta’s government has launched an ambitious strategy to position the province as North America’s premier destination for artificial intelligence (AI) data centre investment, leveraging its natural resources, innovative power industry, and cold climate.The AI data centre attraction strategy focuses on three key pillars: power capacity, sustainable cooling, and economic diversification. These priorities aim to make Alberta a competitive player in the rapidly expanding global AI sector, anticipated to exceed $820 billion in market size by 2030.“Artificial intelligence is behind all the newest technologies we rely on to make our lives better, simpler, safer. There’s incredible opportunity around artificial intelligence, and we are unafraid to dream big,” said Premier Danielle Smith. “This strategy will position Alberta as the place to invest and build AI data centres, further building on our reputation as a province with no limit to innovation and opportunity.”AI data centres, which require substantial power and cooling, stand to benefit from Alberta’s abundant natural gas supply, advanced electricity sector, and cold winters that reduce the need for artificial cooling systems. These factors, combined with Alberta’s low taxes and pro-business policies, make it an attractive location for global AI companies.Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish highlighted the broader economic potential of the initiative.“Alberta is uniquely positioned to capture the AI data centre opportunity, leveraging our vast natural gas resources and pro-business environment to create thousands of high-quality jobs and attract billions in investment. This strategy is not just about building infrastructure; it’s about fostering innovation and establishing Alberta as a hub for high-tech industries, driving economic growth and supporting critical public services like healthcare and education.”The province’s strong AI ecosystem, supported by world-class research through organizations like the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), further enhances its appeal. Cam Linke, CEO of Amii, noted Alberta’s unique position at the forefront of AI innovation: “Many of the algorithms the world’s data centres are running on have been pioneered by Amii researchers right here in Alberta. The opportunity for those companies to be close to the source of some of the leading AI research gives them a competitive advantage.”With 12 data centre projects representing over 6,400 megawatts of load already on the Alberta Electricity System Operator’s project list, the province is well on its way to becoming a critical hub in the global AI landscape. Alberta’s government emphasized that the strategy was developed after extensive consultations with stakeholders across the AI, energy, and telecommunications sectors.By aligning its natural advantages with robust policy and regulatory frameworks, Alberta aims to attract significant investment, stimulate local economies, and support innovation in one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
