Meta Invests $1 Billion in AI Data Center in Tulsa, Pledges Water Sustainability
April 29, 2026
Meta Invests $1 Billion in AI Data Center in Tulsa, Pledges Water Sustainability
Meta Platforms has announced plans to build a new artificial intelligence-optimized data center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, representing an investment of more than $1 billion. The facility, the company’s first in the state, is designed to support next-generation AI workloads and will become Meta’s 28th data center in the United States.
The project comes as demand for computing power accelerates across the tech sector, driving a wave of infrastructure expansion by major cloud and AI providers. The Tulsa site, located in East Tulsa, is expected to span more than 2 million square feet. In addition to the core data center investment, Meta plans to commit at least $25 million to local infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to roads and water systems.
Meta also outlined partnerships with local institutions such as Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Tech to develop workforce training programs. The company aims to produce more than 200 graduates annually in fields including fiber optics, cooling systems, and data analytics, preparing a local talent pipeline for the growing data center industry.
A central element of the project is its focus on water stewardship, an increasingly scrutinized issue for large-scale data centers. Meta said the Tulsa facility will be designed to minimize water use and align with its broader goal of becoming “water positive,” meaning the company aims to restore more water than it consumes. The company also plans to match 100 percent of the data center’s electricity consumption with clean energy, continuing its strategy of pairing infrastructure expansion with renewable energy investments.
These commitments come amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of AI data centers, which can consume large volumes of water for cooling. Industry-wide, data center water use has drawn increasing scrutiny from investors and communities, especially in regions facing water stress. By prioritizing water sustainability and clean energy, Meta is positioning the Tulsa project as a model for responsible AI infrastructure development.
Source: smartwatermagazine
