Alberta to hold first AI data centre town halls this week

Alberta’s technology minister, Nate Glubish, will hold the province's inaugural AI data centre town halls this week in the central region. Glubish, who has been working on an AI strategy and attracting investors for significant computing facilities, plans to engage with residents to gauge their views on the development of these power-intensive centres.

However, the pushback from some communities over concerns about water consumption, pollution, and potential impacts on electricity bills has been considerable. Critics argue that the government's consultations, which occurred after major approvals and announcements, lack transparency.

Premier Danielle Smith maintains that AI development will generate substantial royalties and taxes while using minimal water and reducing electricity transmission costs. Smith will join Glubish for a virtual town hall on Aug. 27, with additional in-person meetings planned in Sturgeon County on Thursday and Grande Prairie on Sept. 11.

Sturgeon County is set to host a $13-billion data centre complex from Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The Alberta grid operator intends to utilize surplus energy to power Meta's facility until a new natural gas-fired plant, called the Greenlight Electricity Centre, begins operation in 2030.

A recent protest outside Sturgeon County's office saw hundreds of people opposing the Meta plant. In the nearby Municipal District of Greenview, O’Leary Digital Limited, backed by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary, is proposing an AI industrial park. However, the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation has challenged this development in court, alleging insufficient consultation with the First Nation over the diversion of six billion litres of water annually.

Last week, a Court of King’s Bench dismissed O’Leary Digital Limited's attempt to challenge the First Nation's judicial review of the project's water licence. Additionally, the province's utility commission recently denied a permit for a natural gas facility that would have supported a large data centre complex in Olds, located less than 100 kilometres from Lacombe.

The Alberta Utilities Commission deemed the natural gas plant project too close to the surrounding community. Earlier this month, a rural municipality near Calgary voted to temporarily halt new data centre proposals while the Rocky View County government seeks to establish clear guidelines.