Calgary considers year-long pause on large data centres as utility concerns grow

Calgary could temporarily pause certain large-scale data-centre land-use applications while administration develops clearer rules governing their location, electricity requirements and municipal infrastructure impacts. A notice of motion supported by Mayor Jeromy Farkas and several councillors is scheduled for technical review at the November 3 Executive Committee meeting. Its sponsors want new definitions for data-centre land uses, an assessment of environmental effects and examination of water and utility servicing. The proposal has not been approved and no citywide moratorium is currently in force.

The initiative comes as Calgary and other Alberta communities confront proposals for large facilities designed to support cloud computing and artificial intelligence. A land-use application near Redstone in northeast Calgary has drawn questions from residents about consultation, energy supply, water consumption and traffic. Supporters of the industry point to construction investment, property taxes and opportunities for Alberta's electricity and natural gas sectors. But the demands of individual facilities can vary dramatically depending on cooling systems, the power source and whether on-site generation is proposed.

The central issue for City Hall is how to welcome commercially viable investment without transferring infrastructure costs to existing customers. Farkas has said developers should pay their own way while protecting Calgary's water supply and electricity grid. An effective regulatory framework would need to distinguish among project designs, set out required technical studies and clarify who finances utility connections. Without those details, broad claims about the water or power demands of every proposed data centre would be premature.

Sources: livewirecalgary.com