Meta Initiates $10 Billion AI Data Center Project in Indiana
Meta Platforms has officially initiated a colossal $10 billion data center campus in Lebanon, Indiana. This marks one of the company’s most significant infrastructure investments to date, as it accelerates the expansion of its artificial intelligence capabilities.
The state-of-the-art facility, once operational, will deliver 1 gigawatt of power capacity. It will span 4 million square feet across 13 buildings on 1,500 acres at the LEAP Innovation and Research District. Meta anticipates the first phase to be operational by late 2027 or early 2028. The campus is designed to handle both AI workloads and core social media operations.
The project is expected to generate approximately 4,000 construction jobs at its peak and 300 permanent operational positions. Rachel Peterson, Meta’s Vice President of Data Centers, underscored the facility’s pivotal role in advancing AI technology. She stated this represents a significant milestone in the company’s AI ambitions.
Meta has pledged to restore 100% of water consumed back to local watersheds. It will also invest over $75 million in public water infrastructure. Furthermore, the company has committed to donate $1 million annually for 20 years to assist families with energy costs. It will also support workforce development programs across Boone County.
This investment is part of Meta’s plan to spend up to $135 billion through 2026 on AI infrastructure expansion. This places Meta alongside tech giants Google and Amazon in terms of massive AI-related capital expenditures.