Meta Announces $10B+ 1GW Data Center in Indiana, Targets 2027-2028 Operations (META-US)

Meta (META-US) broke ground in Lebanon, Indiana, on its largest data center to date, investing over $10 billion to expand AI infrastructure. The facility, spanning about 400,000 square feet with an expected power capacity exceeding 1GW, will support both Meta’s AI workloads and core products and is targeted for completion by the end of 2027 or early 2028. Construction is scheduled to peak with over 4,000 workers and will create approximately 300 long-term roles; the company will also invest $120 million to improve local infrastructure. Meta plans to spend up to $135 billion on AI expansion and data center construction through 2026, up from $72.2 billion in 2025. The project follows broader AI capital spending by peers: Alphabet (GOOGL-US) plans $18 billion, and Amazon (AMZN-US) projects $20 billion through 2026. Meta’s stock reacted strongly in early February 2026 before the gains largely reversed. To mitigate local opposition, Meta will bear all electricity costs and commit to paying $1 million annually to Boone REMC for 20 years to assist with utility bills, provide emergency water fee support, and implement a closed-loop water system that minimizes water use. The company will also invest over $120 million to upgrade water, road, transmission lines, and other local utilities.