Meta has broken ground on a new AI-optimized data center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, marking the company’s first facility in the state and its 28th data center in the United States. The facility represents an investment of more than $1 billion in the region and will target 1 gigawatt of capacity once fully built out. Meta describes the site as purpose-built to support its AI workloads, with a design focused on maximizing efficiency for the company’s specific infrastructure requirements.

The Tulsa campus will use a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system that recirculates the same water throughout operations and targets zero water consumption for the majority of the year. Meta has committed to matching 100% of the facility’s electricity use with clean energy, with more than 1,500 megawatts of clean energy already added to the Oklahoma grid through the company’s existing energy procurement activities. Meta has also committed to investing more than $25 million in local infrastructure improvements to support the surrounding community.

What the Facility Will Look Like

The Tulsa data center will support approximately 100 operational jobs once complete, with peak construction expected to bring more than 1,000 workers to the site. Meta is partnering with Tulsa Tech and Tulsa Community College to establish a new workforce development program targeting digital infrastructure careers including cooling simulation, fiber optics, structured cabling, and AI data analytics. The program aims to produce more than 200 graduates annually for the regional technology workforce.

Meta has committed to covering the full cost of water and wastewater services required for data center operations so those costs do not transfer to local consumers. The company will also provide an annual contribution to the Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s Light a Life program to assist low-income residents with energy bills.

Why Oklahoma and What It Signals

The Tulsa groundbreaking reflects a broader shift in hyperscaler site selection toward markets with favorable power availability, clean energy access, and community receptivity to large industrial facilities. Oklahoma’s energy mix, which includes significant wind generation capacity, makes it an attractive destination for hyperscalers committed to clean energy matching at scale. As covered in our analysis of the rise of inference clouds, the geographic diversification of hyperscaler data center investment beyond traditional primary markets is accelerating as power constraints tighten in historically dominant locations.

“Once operational, this data center will be optimized for our AI workloads, helping to bring our technologies and AI ambitions to life so people around the world can connect, find their community, and grow their businesses,” Meta said in its announcement.