Meta has officially switched on its Kuna Data Center in Idaho, marking a significant milestone in the company's effort to expand the infrastructure that powers its global suite of applications and services. The facility, which broke ground in 2022, is now fully operational and integrated into Meta's network, supporting the delivery of its technologies to users worldwide.
The project represents an investment of more than $1.2 billion in the Kuna community and at its peak construction phase supported 1,600 skilled trade workers. Meta said it selected the location due to the region's robust infrastructure, skilled workforce, and strong community partnerships, underscoring the growing importance of secondary markets in the data center industry as demand for digital services continues to surge.
Beyond the core facility, Meta has woven a series of community and environmental initiatives into the project. The company recently established the Future is for Everyone Fund, a $1 billion commitment aimed at investing directly in U.S. communities where Meta owns and operates data centers. As part of this broader pledge, Meta announced a new $200,000 grant to the Kuna School District. The funding will support the creation of a robotics and engineering lab at Swan Falls High School, provide preschool scholarships for approximately 20 families, finance STEM technology upgrades across six elementary schools, offer training for educators and tutors, and expand virtual learning opportunities for high school students. This builds on Meta's existing direct giving programs, which have already contributed more than $1.5 million to Ada County schools and nonprofits.
Environmental stewardship was also central to the design and operation of the new facility. The Kuna Data Center utilizes a water-efficient, closed-loop liquid cooling system that will consume zero water for the majority of the year. Meta also invested more than $100 million in a new water and wastewater system for the City of Kuna, a system engineered with added capacity to support future residential, commercial, and community development. In line with its goal to restore more water than it consumes by 2030, Meta is partnering with Trout Unlimited on the Alta Harris Creek Boise River Side Channel Project. That initiative is expected to improve water quality, restore fish passage around Barber Dam, and return approximately 149 million gallons of water annually to the local watershed.
On the energy front, the Kuna facility's electricity consumption is matched with 100% clean and renewable energy. To achieve this, three Meta-supported projects are adding 645 MW of new renewable energy capacity in Ada County. Meta also collaborated with Idaho Power well in advance to plan for the data center's energy requirements, including supporting Idaho's first large-customer green tariff through the Clean Energy Your Way program. The company emphasized that it pays the full cost of the facility's energy use, ensuring that local consumers are not negatively impacted by the addition of this significant load.
As the facility ramps up operations, Meta will begin reporting its water and energy consumption metrics in its Annual Sustainability Report. The company credited its success in Kuna to close collaboration with Idaho Commerce, the City of Kuna, Ada County, Idaho Power, and construction partner Hensel Phelps. Industry analysts view the project as a notable example of how hyperscale operators are increasingly aligning data center growth with local community investment and sustainability targets, a trend that is reshaping how digital infrastructure projects are developed across the United States.