Prime Highlights :
- Meta has dramatically increased its investment in a West Texas AI data center project from $1.5 billion to $10 billion, signaling an aggressive expansion in AI infrastructure.
- The facility is expected to reach 1 gigawatt capacity by 2028, positioning it as a major hub to support rising global demand for AI computing power.
Key Facts :
- The project will generate around 300 permanent jobs and require over 4,000 workers at peak construction.
- Meta plans to add more than 5,000 megawatts of clean energy to the grid and work with nonprofits to improve water availability in the region.
Background :
Meta has increased its investment in a major artificial intelligence data center project in West Texas to $10 billion, raising its spending plan by more than six times. The company said the facility, currently under construction in El Paso, will reach 1 gigawatt of capacity by the time it becomes operational in 2028.
Meta said the project will create around 300 permanent jobs. During the construction phase, the company expects more than 4,000 workers to be needed at peak activity. The company added that it wants to support the local community by improving energy and water resources.
As part of the project, Meta said it will help add more than 5,000 megawatts of clean power to the electricity grid. It also plans to reduce water stress in the region by working with specialized nonprofit groups to bring fresh water to the area.
Meta began construction at the 1.2-million-square-foot site in October last year. At that time, the company had planned to invest $1.5 billion. Meta’s vice president of data center development, Gary Demasi, shared the new investment figure during a Borderplex Alliance summit in El Paso.
The increased spending reflects Meta’s growing push to expand its AI infrastructure. The company and other big tech firms are racing to keep up with the increasing demand for computing power. In its January earnings report, Meta said its capital spending for the year could reach as high as $135 billion.
However, Meta’s heavy AI investment is drawing attention from investors. Unlike rivals such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft, Meta does not operate a large cloud business.
Meta’s stock has fallen 17% this year. The company has also confirmed plans for hundreds of layoffs across several divisions as it cuts costs while continuing to invest heavily in AI.