Meta(META.US) Launches "Money-Making" Mode: $10 Billion Invested in Indiana, Largest Single AI Data Center Construction Begins

TechCrunch reports that Meta Platforms Inc. (META.US) officially announced on February 11, 2026, that it will invest over $10 billion in Lebanon, Indiana, to build a massive data center codenamed “Project Domino,” making it one of the company’s largest single-scale artificial intelligence infrastructure investments to date.

Meta broke ground in Lebanon on Wednesday. The campus is expected to provide 1 gigawatt of power to potentially support its AI projects and core social media operations. According to Rachel Peterson, Vice President of Meta Data Centers, the data center covers approximately 1,500 acres with a total construction area of 4 million square feet, and is expected to be operational by late 2027 or early 2028. It is reported that Meta will invest $10 billion in the Lebanon campus over the next several years.

Peterson stated in an interview that Meta’s investment scale in the Lebanon campus makes it one of the company’s largest data center projects to date. The project, along with the “Hyperion” campus in Louisiana and the “Prometheus” campus in Ohio, has been listed among Meta’s key projects.

Strategically, this move is a crucial part of Meta’s ambitious $600 billion U.S. infrastructure investment plan. Facing increasing competition from Google (GOOGL.US) and Amazon (AMZN.US) in computing power, Meta has adopted a defensive strategy of “preemptive overbuilding” to ensure it does not fall behind in the development of next-generation general artificial intelligence (AGI). Although the initial estimated budget for the project was only $800 million, the investment scale has exponentially increased over a few years due to the soaring global demand for high-performance computing, demonstrating management’s strong commitment to AI development.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has prioritized artificial intelligence as the company’s top priority, heavily investing in infrastructure believed to be essential for winning the AI race.

This new Indiana campus will be Meta’s second data center investment in the state. While promoting technological progress, Meta has also made systematic commitments to the local economy and environment. During construction, it is expected to create over 4,000 construction jobs, and once completed, provide 300 high-paying technical positions.

To address public concern over high energy consumption, Meta has committed that the center will be powered entirely by renewable energy and will use advanced closed-loop water cooling systems to reduce water resource consumption. Additionally, Meta plans to invest $120 million to improve local infrastructure and establish a dedicated community fund to offset potential energy cost fluctuations faced by local residents, aiming to balance rapid expansion with sustainable development.

Last month, Meta announced that its capital expenditure for this year is expected to reach $135 billion, covering AI infrastructure projects—an all-time high that far exceeds its 2025 spending level. The company owns more than 30 data center clusters, either already operational or under construction.