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[BUSINESS] · Canada · 24 sources

Part of situation: AI rally fuels market highs, bubble worries, policy fallout (227 clusters)

Christina Lake data centre expansion sparks power and water concerns in BC

Christina Lake DMG Blockchain FortisBC power demand water use

The British Columbia government has capped the amount of electricity BC Hydro can supply, requiring companies to bid for connection rights. Those limits do not apply to FortisBC, which serves the Kootenays and Southern Interior, allowing DMG Blockchain Solutions to expand its Christina Lake facility.

DMG plans to increase the site's power draw from 15 MW to about 65 MW for new AI servers, with a dedicated substation capable of up to 85 MW—over 10 % of FortisBC’s total capacity. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary was not consulted on the upgrade, prompting community complaints about possible water and power impacts.

Area C director Grace McGregor said, “I’m not against data centres… what I am against is that nobody lets you know what’s going on.” DMG’s president Sheldon Bennett defended the project, noting a closed‑loop glycol cooling system that does not draw or discharge local water, and that battery backups will help manage intermittent loads. The district has asked the province to intervene and consider tighter regulation for the sector.

Sources

Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Nelson Star [nelsonstar.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Greenwood Boundary Creek Times [boundarycreektimes.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - The Interior News [interior-news.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Agassiz Harrison Observer [agassizharrisonobserver.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Barriere North Thompson Star [barrierestarjournal.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Burns Lake Lakes District News [burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Ladysmith Chronicle [ladysmithchronicle.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Grand Forks Gazette [grandforksgazette.ca]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Lake Cowichan Gazette [lakecowichangazette.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Northern Sentinel [northernsentinel.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Quesnel Cariboo Observer [quesnelobserver.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Haida Gwaii Observer [haidagwaiiobserver.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Vancouver Island Free Daily [vancouverislandfreedaily.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - 100 Mile Free Press [100milefreepress.net]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Abbotsford News [abbynews.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - The Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal [ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Campbell River Mirror [campbellrivermirror.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Comox Valley Record [comoxvalleyrecord.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Cowichan Valley Citizen [cowichanvalleycitizen.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Oak Bay News [oakbaynews.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Peninsula News Review [peninsulanewsreview.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Terrace Standard [terracestandard.com]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Trail Times [trailtimes.ca]
8 days ago
Where the rules don’t apply: Fortis and the Christina Lake data centre controversy - Victoria News [vicnews.com]
8 days ago