Alberta has made no secret of its desire to be a destination for AI infrastructure.
Over the past year, the province released a comprehensive AI strategy, toured international capital markets, and positioned its energy system as an asset. But what does execution actually look like? What rules are in place, and how far along is Alberta in turning interest into real development?
At Inventures 2025, Digital Journal sat down with Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish to explore exactly that. In the conversation, Glubish offered details into how the province is supporting early-stage data centre projects, what Alberta will and will not do to attract investment, and how electricity constraints are being addressed in one of the most capital-intensive races in modern infrastructure.
Rather than compete with tax incentives or land giveaways, Glubish says Alberta is offering what investors increasingly value. A clear path to build.
“This is an electricity game first and foremost,” he says. “The capital will go to where the electricity can get developed.”
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Concierge support and firm rules on electricity
The most tangible update is that Alberta’s concierge permitting team is now fully operational. First introduced as part of the province’s AI data centre strategy, the team is working directly with developers to clarify permitting, Indigenous consultation, and environmental requirements. This is not a shortcut. It is a support mechanism to help projects move faster while respecting regulatory processes.
“We are not going to compromise reliability or affordability of the grid,” Glubish says. “But we are going to make sure someone’s application is not sitting on a desk for weeks without action.”
One project already receiving support is Wonder Valley, a proposed development near Grande Prairie. Glubish confirmed that the project has been in development for less than a year and is moving forward in modular phases. It includes on-site power generation, which aligns with Alberta’s policy that developers can choose to build off-grid if they do not want to fund transmission infrastructure.
Alberta’s rules are explicit. Projects that connect to the grid must pay for all required infrastructure upgrades. Ratepayers will not be asked to cover those costs.
“There’s no way they can load the cost of their project onto Alberta electricity ratepayers,” Glubish says. “When I explain that to them, they get that.”
This position is part of Alberta’s broader strategy to attract serious investors and developers who are prepared to fund their own infrastructure. It also reinforces the government’s focus on protecting the long-term affordability and reliability of the provincial electricity system.
For additional context, Digital Journal previously reported on how Alberta is managing energy demands from data centres without compromising its core grid.
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Turning strategy into action
Glubish didn’t downplay the size of the global opportunity or Alberta’s ambition.
He cited recent estimates suggesting that 300 gigawatts of new AI-related power and data infrastructure will be needed globally within the next five years. Alberta’s current grid serves about 12 gigawatts. No single jurisdiction can deliver the full build-out, but Glubish believes Alberta can play a meaningful part by being realistic and execution-focused.
“We’re not telling anybody what to do with their investment dollars,” he says. “We’re just saying if you want to invest in this, Alberta is a great place to build it.”
He noted that the province has already seen tens, possibly hundreds, of billions of dollars in proposed interest. Alberta places no restrictions on who can invest, but it sets clear expectations for how infrastructure is financed and approved. Glubish said capital could come from a range of sources. If organizations like the Canada Pension Plan, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, or AIMCo want to invest, the province would support their involvement.
Glubish framed Alberta’s pitch as a choice between incentive-driven competition and clarity-driven execution. He believes long-term infrastructure investors want to know what the rules are and how quickly a project can be permitted. Alberta is betting that a transparent, consistent approval process will be more attractive than short-term subsidies or political uncertainty.
That clarity extends to how Alberta views natural gas.
In a previous interview, Glubish described the province’s approach as a way to convert natural gas into compute and export it digitally through fibre. By powering data centres in addition to pipelines, Alberta creates new domestic demand for its energy while attracting global investment into high-value digital infrastructure.
The idea has also been echoed by industry voices. As reported in Digital Journal’s coverage of YYC DataCon, one panelist put it simply: “We should be exporting compute, not molecules.”
This sit-down offered a clearer picture of where the file stands today. The concierge team is in place and working. Rules around grid access and developer funding are unambiguous. And Alberta is now being measured on execution, not just vision.
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Final shots
- Alberta’s concierge permitting team is now supporting real projects and helping reduce unnecessary delays.
- Developers are responsible for all infrastructure costs. Ratepayers will not subsidise AI data centres.
- Alberta’s strategy is based on clarity and speed. If developers follow the rules, they can expect reasonable timelines and direct answers.
Watch the interview:
