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 and marking the company’s first facility in the state.
The project is part of Meta’s broader push to expand its AI infrastructure as demand for computing power accelerates across the tech sector. The Tulsa site will be the company’s 28th data center in the United States and is designed to support next-generation AI workloads.
The data center will be located in East Tulsa and is expected to span more than 2 million square feet. Meta also plans to invest at least $25 million in local infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to roads and water systems.
In addition, the company outlined partnerships with local institutions such as Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Tech to develop workforce training programs, with a goal of producing more than 200 graduates annually in fields like fiber optics, cooling systems, and data analytics.
Water sustainability and environmental commitments
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.
