Tulsa, Oklahoma is set to host Meta’s latest AI data center, marking the company’s first in the state, 28th in the United States, and 32nd worldwide. This facility will be specifically designed to enhance AI operations, facilitating global connectivity, community building, and business growth.
Investing in the Tulsa Community
Meta is dedicated to positively impacting the communities where it operates. The Tulsa data center will signify an investment of over $1 billion in the area. During peak construction, it is expected that more than 1,000 construction workers will be employed, and upon completion, around 100 operational jobs will be supported. Additionally, Meta is investing over $25 million in local infrastructure enhancements, including roads and water systems.
Local partnerships are crucial to Meta’s community improvement goals. A grant is being provided to Eastside Rise to extend its neighborhood enhancement initiatives in East Tulsa, supporting various projects such as community gardens, public art, and home repairs. Collaborations with Tulsa Tech and Tulsa Community College are also underway to develop a workforce development program and learning lab for careers in digital infrastructure, expected to produce over 200 graduates annually in fields like cooling simulation, fiber optics, and AI programming.
Prioritizing Water Stewardship
Meta aims to be responsible stewards of water resources in its data center locations, designing facilities to use minimal water. The Tulsa center will employ a water-efficient closed-loop, liquid-cooled system, using zero water for most of the year. Meta covers the full cost of water and wastewater services, ensuring no additional burden on consumers. A partnership with the Tulsa Community Foundation will establish a fund to assist residents with water bill payments and service line repairs.
Meta’s goal is to become water positive by 2030, restoring more water to local watersheds than consumed. A collaboration with Phytech involves a water restoration project that provides irrigation technology to local farmers, optimizing water use and yields. This ten-year initiative will apply Phytech’s plant-sensor technology to about 1,500 acres of crops, conserving over 50 million gallons of water annually.
Supporting the Grid
Meta will cover all energy costs for the data center, ensuring no financial impact on consumers. The electricity usage will be matched with 100% clean energy, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to grid infrastructure improvements, like substations and transmission lines. Meta is also adding over 1,500 megawatts of clean energy to Oklahoma’s grid.
Furthermore, an annual contribution will be made to the Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s Light a Life Program, assisting Oklahomans struggling with energy bills through a partnership with the Salvation Army.
Meta is committed to designing and maintaining facilities that positively impact communities and looks forward to working with Tulsa to bring this data center to fruition.
