KUNA — Meta’s newest data center is up and running right here in Idaho, isolated on 650 acres of land in eastern Kuna.
Unveiled in a ceremony Thursday, the center is one of 29 existing data centers operated by Meta in the U.S, storing servers to run its digital platforms. Kuna’s center has led to a $1.2 billion investment in Idaho’s economy, the construction of buildings totaling approximately 17 acres and financial contributions into the local community.
“Sometimes you get into these deals, and then say, ‘Well, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not true,’” Kuna Mayor Joe Stear said. “Well, I can tell you in this case, everything that sounded too good to be true came true.”
The data center’s construction correlates with the growing use of artificial intelligence nationwide and by Meta. Meta AI joined the ranks of Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp in 2023 when the virtual assistant began to be incorporated onto the platforms.
AI data centers have been at the center of controversy due to environmental impacts and high water usage. When the project began in 2022, Kuna community members expressed concerns regarding the water consumption. A 2025 New York Times report estimated that Meta’s data centers used 500,000 gallons of water per day.
However, in another milestone for Idaho, the Kuna center is the second-ever Meta data center to use an enclosed cooling system. The closed-loop water system is designed to reuse the same water for years to come. The water cycles through and is prevented from evaporating, keeping 200,000 gallons of water in the pipes. The same water will be able to serve the system for an estimated lifespan of seven to 10 years.
According to Stear, the closed-loop system wasn’t in the initial plans for the facility.
“They actually paused their own project for over a year in order to make that happen, and that has such a dramatic impact on the community,” he said. “One of the things that people were worried about the most was the amount of water that could be used.”
The project first broke ground in 2022, then took a pause and restarted in 2023. It is now operational and employs 75 staff. This will likely grow to 100 as hiring continues.
Director of community and economic development Brad Davis said Meta’s growth isn’t slowing down any time soon.
“I’ve been with the company for almost 15 years now. We have never stopped growing from that standpoint, it has a lot to do with the evolving nature of technology,” he said. “The more people that are relying upon our platforms to build community, support their business, connect with friends and family ... the more the demand for data centers ultimately grows.”
A never-ending hallway at the data center houses rooms with rows upon rows of servers. The exact number could not be disclosed, but Davis said it was in the thousands.
Stepping into the hallway, it was apparent that the building was warm. According to Operations Manager Scott Stillings the facility is kept at 85 degrees to best conserve energy. Inside the rooms, the servers are cooled by the water system and walls of fans.
In a new commitment to being environmentally conscious, Meta has affirmed its goal to match its energy use with 100% clean energy. This means electricity used through Idaho Power will be returned via clean energy production. Meta has established a solar farm along with other projects to do so.
Davis said the philosophy is to leave communities in a better place than they found them.
The energy production goes hand-in-hand with Meta’s efforts to become water positive by 2030. The goal is to return water to regions facing challenges with water. According to Meta’s website, this entails reducing water consumption as well as investing in water conservation and restoration projects.
“Today has been a long journey, and I’m just proud of all the work and all the effort that went into making that happen,” Stear said about the center’s completion.
Locally, Meta has begun sponsoring events including Kuna Days and the Kuna Stampede Rodeo according to Stear.
Meta has also granted more than $1.5 million to local schools and nonprofits in Ada County. At Thursday’s ceremony, an additional $200,000 was granted to the Kuna School District. The grant will go towards STEM programs, preparation for highschoolers to enter the workforce and more.
“The partnership with Meta also allows us to take care of very primary needs of students,” Kuna School District Superintendent Marcus Myers said. “Feeding them, clothing them, creating opportunities in the community, keeping them safe and making sure that they know their community loves them.”