If you have been following the news about data centres coming to Alberta, you have probably seen the big numbers. 3,300 megawatts of proposed capacity. $4.6 billion for Meta natural gas plant. A 970 MW grid connection — the largest load request in our province history.
But here is the question that matters for every Albertan who pays an electricity bill: who is going to pay for all this new power demand?
Our Grid: Running on Thin Margins
Alberta grid is relatively isolated — just limited interconnections with BC, Saskatchewan, and the US. When things get tight, we cannot import our way out of trouble like other provinces can.
And things do get tight. We operate with thin capacity margins. During cold snaps, AESO regularly issues Grid Alerts asking everyone to conserve. Total provincial generation: roughly 16,000–17,000 MW.
The data centre pipeline: about 3,300 MW — roughly 20% of our entire capacity. A single 1 GW data centre uses as much electricity as 700,000–800,000 homes — roughly the entire city of Calgary.
Phase 1 Is Spoken For
AESO Large Load Integration Phase 1 allocated 1,200 MW — all taken. Meta accounts for 970 MW. Keephills takes 230 MW. Both have firm connection agreements.
Phase 2 is in “pre-engagement.” No timeline. No capacity allocated. No finalized rules. Goldfinch would fall into Phase 2.
BYOP: Bring Your Own Power
Alberta requires large loads to “bring their own power” — build generation alongside demand so existing ratepayers do not foot the bill.
Meta: $4.6 billion Project Greenlight — a 970 MW natural gas plant built alongside their data centre. Bitdeer Fox Creek: 101 MW gas plant with a 100 MW data centre. Generation and load, built concurrently.
Goldfinch? No generation plan announced. Diode says they are “working with AESO” but has not committed to building new power. That is a red flag.
The Virginia Precedent
In Virginia “Data Center Alley,” residential electricity rates rose between 2019 and 2024 even as industrial rates declined. Special rate structures shifted costs onto households. When a data centre uses city-sized power but pays less per kWh, someone makes up the difference.
Alberta BYOP framework was designed to prevent this cross-subsidization. But only if it is enforced.
The Timing Question
- Meta: Generation AND data centre built concurrently.
- Bitdeer: Gas plant AND data centre built concurrently.
- Diode/Goldfinch: Seeking zoning first. Power plan “determined at development permit stage” — after zoning approval.
If Diode connects to the grid before building generation, the cost lands on residential ratepayers. Our rates go up. Their shareholders save.
What This Means for Wheatland County
This is not just about land use, traffic, or groundwater. It is about whether we let a massive electricity load connect to our stretched grid without a plan for powering it.
This decision starts at the local level. Council will vote on the zoning amendment. But the implications — for our bills, for grid reliability — reach far beyond the county.
Learn more on our facts page and find out how to make your voice heard on our get involved page.