Meta Breaks Ground on 1GW Indiana Campus with US$10bn Boost

Meta has broken ground on a 1GW data centre campus in Lebanon, Indiana, marking one of the company’s largest single infrastructure investments to date.

The facility – Meta’s second in Indiana and its 27th in the US – represents an investment of more than US$10bn in digital infrastructure and the surrounding community. 

Designed to support both AI workloads and Meta’s core platforms, the site reflects the company’s shift towards gigawatt-scale campuses to meet rising compute demand.

Rachel Peterson, Vice President of Data Centers at Meta, describes the project as a significant step in the company’s AI roadmap.

“Meta officially broke ground on our latest AI data centre campus in Lebanon, Indiana – a major milestone in our commitment to building the infrastructure that will accelerate our AI ambitions and power the future of personal superintelligence,” Rachel says on LinkedIn. 

“Planned to be a 1GW campus, this site represents one of Meta’s largest infrastructure investments to date – our 27th data centre in the United States – with over US$10bn dedicated to advancing technology and making a lasting impact in the local community.”

Rachel added that the scale of the campus is intended to provide the flexibility required for both next-generation AI systems and the company’s existing services.

Built for gigawatt-scale AI

Once operational, the Lebanon campus will deliver up to 1GW of capacity. Meta says building at this scale enables higher bandwidth, lower latency and improved reliability across its infrastructure estate.

As AI models grow in size and complexity, gigawatt campuses are emerging as a new benchmark for hyperscale operators. The Lebanon facility is designed to accommodate a mix of AI training and inference workloads alongside Meta’s core social media and messaging products.

Gary Demasi, Vice President, Data Center Development & Strategy at Meta, highlights the role of the campus in supporting AI-driven services.

“This 1GW facility will play a pivotal role in supporting our AI-driven products, services and experiences, leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver world-class performance,” says Gary, writing on LinkedIn. 

“This project is not only a milestone in infrastructure innovation, but also a catalyst for local economic growth, supporting over 4,000 construction jobs and 300 operational roles. 

“Through our workforce development grants and annual Community Action Grants, we’re supporting schools and nonprofits to build digital skills, advance STEAM education and foster long-term career opportunities.”

Gary also notes that Meta will contribute US$1m each year for 20 years to the Boone REMC Community Fund to assist families with energy bills.

Community and infrastructure investment

At peak construction, the project is expected to support more than 4,000 jobs, with around 300 permanent operational roles once the campus is live. Meta is launching a county wide workforce development programme through the Boone County Career Collaborative, aimed at connecting students across three school districts with local employers.

In addition to employment, Meta has committed to significant public infrastructure funding. The company will invest more than US$120m in critical water infrastructure in Lebanon and other public improvements including roads, transmission lines and utility upgrades. This includes US$45m for public road improvements and more than US$75m in water infrastructure projects.

Meta states that it pays the full cost of the energy used by its data centres and works with utilities to plan demand years in advance to avoid shifting costs onto residents. The company also covers the full cost of water and wastewater services required for its operations.

Beyond direct infrastructure funding, Meta will extend its annual Community Action Grants programme to Boone County, providing grants to schools, nonprofits and community organisations.

Clean energy and water strategy

The Lebanon campus will be matched with 100% clean and renewable energy. Meta says the data centre will achieve LEED Gold certification once operational.

The facility will use a water-efficient closed-loop liquid cooling system that recirculates water and uses zero water for the majority of the year. The company has committed to restoring 100% of the water it consumes at the site to local watersheds.

Environmental initiatives linked to the project include a partnership with Arable to provide irrigation technology to independent farmers in Indiana’s Upper Wabash River Basin. Meta says this will restore 200 million gallons of water annually for 10 years. The company is also revitalising a section of Deer Creek to improve wetland habitat and expand vegetation.

With construction now underway, the Lebanon campus adds to Meta’s growing portfolio of gigawatt-scale data centre developments designed to support AI workloads and core digital services across its global platform.