Alberta delegation visits Eagle Mountain to learn from data center success
A delegation of elected officials and staffers from Sturgeon County, Alberta, Canada visited Eagle Mountain on Tuesday as part of a Learning Tour aimed at better understanding the city’s data center development model.
Located just north of Edmonton, Sturgeon County has been exploring opportunities to grow its own technology infrastructure and was introduced to Eagle Mountain late last year.
The delegation identified Eagle Mountain as a leader in data center planning and implementation, especially when it comes to managing environmental impacts, community benefits and long-term sustainability.
“There’s a growing global interest in how communities can harness the economic potential of data centers while also protecting their resources and supporting residents,” said Eagle Mountain Economic Development Director Evan Berrett. “We’re proud that Eagle Mountain is being seen as a model for doing this well.”
The delegation’s visit included a guided tour of Meta’s Eagle Mountain data center campus.
Meta has played a central role in positioning the city as a rising hub for tech infrastructure, with ongoing investments in state-of-the-art facilities that are designed to be energy efficient and integrated with the community.
“It was a pleasure to welcome our Canadian visitors and share how Eagle Mountain has approached the development of this industry,” said Berrett. “We’ve worked hard to create an environment where data centers can excel without sacrificing our environmental values or the needs of our residents.”
The City’s approach is gaining national recognition for its thoughtful planning, which emphasizes water conservation, clean energy and responsible land use.
Eagle Mountain also places a strong emphasis on negotiating long-term public benefit as part of its development agreements with data center operators.
“These projects are about strategic investment in our future,” says Berrett. “Data centers bring jobs, tax revenue, and the chance to invest in services and amenities that will enhance quality of life for our residents over time.”
Eagle Mountain’s careful planning has not only attracted tech leaders like Meta but also sparked interest from municipalities across North America seeking to replicate its success.
“Seeing another county so engaged and eager to learn from us was really encouraging,” said Berrett. “It shows that what we’re doing here has broader relevance. We’re showing that even a relatively young and fast-growing city can help set the standard for responsible innovation.”
The Sturgeon County delegation’s tour was part of a broader initiative to examine best practices in tech-related economic development. Their visit included time with City officials to discuss zoning, permitting, infrastructure planning, and how Eagle Mountain collaborates with industry partners to align development with long-term community goals.
City leaders hope that sharing their insights with others will lead to stronger, more resilient tech infrastructure development across North America.
“We’re not just focused on growth, we’re focused on the right kind of growth,” said Berrett. “That’s what makes the difference, and that’s what makes visits like today’s so meaningful.”