Big Tech Increases Presence at Calgary Stampede as Alberta Courts Data Center Investment

U.S. technology giants have become a noticeable presence at this year's Calgary Stampede, an annual event typically dominated by oil and gas companies. According to sources at the event, companies including Google, Meta, and Amazon are attending meetings and hosting parties, indicating a growing interest in the province of Alberta. Google, a sponsor for the second consecutive year, reportedly hosted a private party for 300 guests, including federal and provincial politicians.

This increased tech presence aligns with Alberta's push to become a major hub for data centers. The provincial government is aiming to attract C$100 billion in data center investment, promoting its abundant and affordable natural gas supply as a key advantage. The province's cold climate and affordable power are seen as attractive features for U.S.-based hyperscalers who may face power limitations and community opposition in their home country.

The Alberta government is scheduled to announce a "major investment" related to the province's technology and artificial intelligence sector this week. Nate Glubish, Alberta’s technology minister, has previously stated that the province is in discussions with multiple tech companies looking for locations where they can connect to the power grid quickly. The government is also offering companies the option to build their own power generation facilities to circumvent potential capacity limits.

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While Alberta does not currently have any hyperscale data centers—those requiring 50 megawatts or more of power—nearly 100 have been proposed. Underscoring this trend, Pembina Pipeline recently announced it is moving forward with its C$4.6 billion Greenlight Electricity Centre. The 932-megawatt natural gas-fired project is being built to power a large data center for an undisclosed customer.