Alberta government holds town halls on AI data centre expansion

The Alberta government is launching a series of town hall meetings to address public concerns regarding the rapid development of artificial intelligence data centres across the province. Technology Minister Nate Glubish will lead the first session in Lacombe, followed by meetings in Sturgeon County and Grande Prairie.

While Premier Danielle Smith maintains that the AI boom will generate significant royalties and taxes with minimal water usage, the projects have faced intense local opposition. Residents and activists have raised concerns regarding increased electricity bills, noise pollution, water consumption, and environmental impacts. Some critics, including student Ben Baril, argue that the government’s consultations are disingenuous because major project approvals were granted before public input was sought.

Key developments include a planned $13-billion Meta facility in Sturgeon County, described as the largest AI data centre investment in Canadian history. Additionally, an industrial park proposed by O’Leary Digital Limited is facing legal challenges from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation over water diversion permits.