Meta Breaks Ground on $10B Data Center in Indiana to Power AI Infrastructure

Meta Platforms, Inc. has kicked off construction on its largest data center project yet: a 1GW, $10 billion campus in Lebanon, Indiana. The facility is designed to meet surging AI computing demands for Meta’s social platforms and future metaverse ambitions. At peak, the build will employ some 4,000 workers, then transition to roughly 300 permanent roles once operational. With advanced liquid-cooled systems and a commitment to 100 percent clean energy matching, Meta aims to set a new standard for hyperscale AI infrastructure.

Project Overview and Goals

On February 11, 2026, Meta’s executive team and Indiana officials broke ground on a 4 million sq ft data center campus in the LEAP District innovation park. According to Meta’s press release[1] and its Data Centers blog[2], the site will deliver up to 1 gigawatt of power capacity dedicated to AI compute racks. This is Meta’s second Indiana build after Jeffersonville, announced in 2023, and one of the company’s largest single-location investments to date. The key goal: secure massive, reliable compute at scale to train and run next-generation AI models across Facebook, Instagram and new metaverse services.

Site and Community Context

Lebanon sits in central Indiana’s Boone County, about 30 miles north of Indianapolis. Founded in 1832 as a railroad hub, the town evolved into a manufacturing and logistics center before attracting tech projects in recent years. The LEAP District offers pre-approved zoning for large industrial builds, flat topography and access to reliable transmission lines. Local utilities—Boone REMC and Wabash Valley Power—worked with Meta on capacity planning and interconnection studies. Community leaders view the project as a catalyst for tougher workforce programs and broader economic diversification.

Technology and Design

The Lebanon campus is built around a liquid-cooled system that recirculates water through a closed-loop design. By running coolant directly to high-density AI servers, the system limits water use for most of the year and boosts energy efficiency in heat rejection. Meta targets LEED Gold certification and will match 100 percent of its power draw with renewable energy credits. The four main buildings are spaced to optimize airflow and reduce on-site temperature variations. Infrastructure upgrades include a new substation and dedicated 345 kV transmission line.

Economic and Workforce Impact

Construction will create up to 4,000 peak jobs spanning skilled trades, project management and site services. Meta projects roughly 300 long-term positions for operations, maintenance and security. To support local hiring, the company is partnering with Boone County schools, Ivy Tech Community College and workforce development boards. It also committed $1 million annually for 20 years to an energy assistance fund for low-income residents. Meta Careers lists openings on its site and lebanondatacenter.com, with training programs in electrical and mechanical systems.

Sustainability Measures

Water stewardship was central to the design. Meta will restore 200 million gallons annually to local waterways and invest $120 million in water-infrastructure upgrades, including new pipelines and pump stations. The closed-loop liquid-cooling system cuts overall water consumption, and on-site retention ponds manage stormwater runoff. For energy, Meta signed long-term power purchase agreements to match 100 percent of its electricity usage with renewables. The company also pledged to support stream revitalization projects in the Deer Creek watershed.

Partnerships and Process

Meta tapped contractors Mortenson and Turner Construction to lead the build, with Faith Technologies handling electrical work. The team coordinated weekly with Boone REMC, Wabash Valley Power and Indiana’s Office of Community & Rural Affairs. Governor Mike Braun joined the groundbreaking ceremony, highlighting the state’s push to attract high-tech investment. Early engagement with local officials smoothed permitting for environmental reviews and utility tie-ins. Meta’s data-center group applied lessons from its Jeffersonville site to fast-track foundation work and structural steel delivery.

Lessons and Next Steps

The Lebanon project underscores how hyperscalers can partner with midwestern communities on GW-scale facilities. By tackling utility upgrades, workforce training and sustainability upfront, Meta reduced risks around permitting and resource availability. For other towns weighing large data center bids, this model shows the value of early stakeholder alignment—utilities, regulators and economic development groups. Looking ahead, Meta indicates it will use insights from Lebanon to refine its AI-compute campus blueprints elsewhere. Communities eyeing similar investments should start power-capacity studies and skills assessments now to stay competitive.

As Meta moves forward, the spotlight will fall on actual resource impacts, from grid stability to water tables. But with a structured build process and clear community commitments, this Indiana campus could become a template for responsible hyperscale growth in the AI era.