Alberta officials face public pushback over AI data centre plans

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Technology Minister Nate Glubish are engaging in a series of town hall meetings to discuss the province’s strategy for attracting and regulating artificial intelligence data centres. The government aims to position Alberta as a hub for these facilities, citing potential job creation and billions in royalties and taxes. This follows the announcement of a proposed $13-billion Meta campus north of Edmonton.

Public reception has been contentious. During a town hall in Lacombe, Minister Glubish faced jeers and criticism from residents concerned about the impact on local water supplies, electricity costs, and land use. Opponents expressed a lack of trust in the government’s ability to regulate the industry’s risks.

In response to community concerns, Premier Smith stated the town halls are intended to identify “blind spots” in existing development rules. The government is considering new guidance on water usage technology and stricter rules regarding the proximity of data centres to residential areas. Notably, a proposed data centre project in Olds was recently rejected by a provincial regulator due to its closeness to homes.