Meta has initiated construction on a groundbreaking 1 gigawatt data center campus in Lebanon, Indiana, representing one of the company’s most substantial infrastructure investments to date. The project entails over $10 billion in spending, which will encompass data center infrastructure as well as community development initiatives.
This marks the second data center location for Meta in Indiana. Once fully operational, the Lebanon campus is designed to deliver 1GW of capacity, providing the flexibility necessary to support both the company’s core digital platforms and its rapidly expanding AI workloads. As the demand for computational power grows with AI systems, facilities of this scale are becoming increasingly crucial.
Large campuses allow tech companies to centralize high-density computing resources, enabling higher bandwidth, reduced latency, and enhanced reliability. Meta’s facility is built with future scalability in mind, intended to cater to existing services while also supporting its ambitions in artificial intelligence without needing separate facilities for each function.
During peak construction, the project is expected to create over 4,000 jobs. However, once the center becomes operational, approximately 300 permanent positions will remain. In addition to direct employment opportunities, Meta is launching a workforce development initiative across Boone County. The Boone County Career Collaborative will focus on career exploration and work-based learning for students in three local school districts, bridging classrooms with employers in the area.
Meta also plans to provide substantial financial support to residents in the region. The company has committed to donating $1 million annually for 20 years to the Boone REMC Community Fund, which aims to assist families with energy bills. Additional funding will be directed towards emergency water utility assistance through a partnership with The Caring Center.
Furthermore, Meta will cover the full costs associated with energy, water, and wastewater services required for the facility’s operations. Over the course of the project, the company anticipates investing more than $120 million to enhance critical water infrastructure in Lebanon, alongside improvements to roads, transmission lines, and other utilities.
Powering AI Responsibly
The data center is designed to match 100 percent of its electricity use with clean energy. Meta aims to achieve LEED Gold certification once the facility is operational, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. To minimize water consumption, the center will implement a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system that recirculates water, allowing the facility to operate with zero water usage for a significant portion of the year. Additionally, Meta plans to restore 100 percent of the water it consumes back to local watersheds.
In a bid to support local agriculture, the company is partnering with Arable to deploy irrigation technology for independent farmers in Indiana’s Upper Wabash River Basin. This initiative is projected to restore 200 million gallons of water annually for a decade, while also lowering irrigation costs for farmers. Meta also intends to revitalize a section of Deer Creek to enhance wetland health, increase vegetation, and improve habitats for pollinators.
As Meta positions itself as a long-term partner in the region, it aims to transform the Lebanon site into both a pivotal compute hub for AI and a major economic engine for Boone County. The strategic investment not only underscores the growing demand for data center capacity to support AI advancements but also highlights Meta’s broader commitment to sustainable community development.
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