Indigenous-led 650MW data center to rise on abandoned Shell oil site in Alberta

The Woodland Cree First Nation is transforming a scrapped Shell oil sands project into a 650MW data center near Cadotte Lake, Alberta. Backed by Mihta Askiy Datacenter and powered by natural gas, the facility marks a rare indigenous-led push into digital infrastructure. Siemens turbines are already secured, with generation expected in 2027. The site sits near carbon storage, fiber, and gas—underscoring Alberta’s fast-growing role in data center development.