Meta's latest project in El Paso, Texas, is set to redefine AI infrastructure. Initially planned as a $1.5 billion investment, the tech giant has now scaled the budget to a staggering $10 billion. This campus will harness 1 gigawatt of power the kind that could supply energy to about 750,000 homes.
This move isn't isolated. Meta is actively building massive data centers across the United States. In Louisiana, a $10 billion campus covering 4 million square feet and sprawling over 2,250 acres claims the title of Meta's largest. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Indiana, a $10 billion-plus development with 13 buildings is expected to be operational by late 2027 or early 2028. Altogether, Meta's commitments for these three sites alone top $30 billion, pushing their total 2026 capital expenditure potentially as high as $135 billion.
These investments shows how Meta is steering clear of blockchain and cryptocurrency, focusing instead on foundational AI infrastructure after its previous attempt with the Diem digital currency. Yet, the scale of energy demand from these campuses will intensify existing discussions around power consumption and sustainable computing a debate familiar to Bitcoin miners. Meta’s AI data center buildup signals a monumental shift in how tech giants prioritize infrastructure for the future.
