Meta has announced plans to build its 30th data center in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The new facility will be optimized for artificial intelligence workloads and is part of Meta’s strategy to expand its AI infrastructure globally.
The company selected Beaver Dam due to its reliable infrastructure and skilled workforce. The project represents an investment of more than $1 billion and is expected to create over 100 operational jobs as well as provide work for more than 1,000 skilled trade workers during peak construction. Meta will also invest nearly $200 million in energy infrastructure upgrades, which include network improvements, utility substations, and transmission lines.
In addition to the data center development, Meta will donate $15 million to Alliant Energy’s Hometown Care Energy Fund. This fund helps families in need cover home energy costs.
Applications for Data Center Community Action Grants will open next fall in Beaver Dam. These grants aim to support schools and local organizations by funding technology initiatives that benefit the community, foster sustainable development, and improve STEAM education. Meta is also offering free digital skills training programs for local small businesses to help them use digital tools and AI solutions such as Meta AI.
Meta has emphasized water stewardship at the new campus. The data center will use dry-cooling technology, eliminating water demand for cooling purposes once operational. The company has committed to restoring all water consumed by the facility back into local watersheds. Measures on site include rainwater capture and infiltration, installation of water-saving fixtures, and landscaping with native plants to minimize irrigation needs.
In partnership with Ducks Unlimited and other organizations, Meta is restoring 570 acres of wetlands and prairie near the data center. Of this area, about 175 acres will be transferred to Ducks Unlimited for revitalization efforts aimed at creating habitats for birds, wildlife, and plant species.
The electricity used by the Beaver Dam data center will be matched with 100% clean and renewable energy sources. The facility is designed with sustainability in mind and aims to achieve LEED Gold Certification.
"We’re focused on building industry-leading infrastructure that supports our most ambitious AI workloads and connects billions of people around the world," a spokesperson said. "Once operational, the Beaver Dam data center will be optimized for our expanding AI workloads, supporting our growing fleet of industry-leading AI infrastructure, and setting us up to deliver the future of AI innovation."