Synapse Data Center recently announced plans for a one-gigawatt facility in Alberta.
The project represents a $10 billion private-sector investment over a two-year period and is forecast to “deliver significant economic, employment, and technological benefits at the local, regional, and national levels.”
The facility—which would be ten times larger than existing data centres currently operating in Canada—would fuel the creation of 2,000 construction jobs during the development process, plus “more than 1,000 long-term high-skilled technology and operations jobs once fully operational,” according to a statement.
The location, in Olds, was a “clear choice” for Synapse chief executive Jason van Gaal.
The “strategic location between Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer” provides “unparalleled access to a skilled workforce,” according to the CEO.
“By creating over 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technology jobs,” van Gaal remarked, “we are ensuring that the benefits of the global AI boom are felt directly here.”
Dan Daley, Mayor of Olds, describes the potential project as “one of the most significant digital infrastructure investments in Canada.”
“This is a major milestone for our community and will offer many wonderful benefits,” he stated.
All required regulatory and environmental approvals will be pursued through appropriate bodies, affirmed van Gaal, including the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Alberta Energy Regulator, and applicable provincial and federal assessment processes.
