Calgary councillors will have a discussion in the coming weeks to start developing rules for future large-scale data centre applications within the city. It comes amid a review of a land use redesignation application for “large industrial buildings (data centre)” in Calgary’s northeast. “I’m generally supportive of the direction that our Rocky View County council colleagues have gone down in terms of hitting a little bit of a pause to better understand what some of the implications may be,” Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas told CTV News. In July, Rocky View County voted in favour of a “temporary moratorium” on new data centre applications in order to develop a proper framework for the municipality. “This is something that has never been tested in our city of this magnitude. So, I will be pushing for a more cautionary approach on it and asking those tough questions,” said Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, who represents the area where the proposed land use change is located. “To me, this is like putting a cart in front of the horse.” The land in question is a large undeveloped area east of the intersection of 52nd Street and 144th Avenue N.E., north of the community of Redstone. The application asks for permission to allow for large industrial buildings and large power generation for a data centre, along with natural areas and stormwater retention ponds. Public submissions are being accepted for the land use redesignation proposal until Friday. Even if the land use change is approved, the proponents would still need to apply for a development permit. “It’s a really good thing that the City of Calgary is kind of raising an eyebrow and looking at this,” said Sarah Yurchevich with the group Alberta Data Centre Watch. “You really need to know what these companies’ plans are for the future. “Is the machine going to be decommissioned in 30 years, and we’re going to be left with a whole bunch of landfills full of tech debt and stuff that’s not going to be in use by anyone anymore? “What are the emissions impacts and the noise impacts?” The area is owned by real estate asset management company Walton as part of its 710-acre North Point Industrial area. Stantec is listed as the applicant for the land use change. Multiple requests from CTV News to Stantec and Walton have gone unanswered. Dhaliwal said council will need to direct city administration to develop rules for data centres around noise, water usage and taxation. “It will need some council direction to put the proper process in place, start time defining that process, start putting proper goalposts and and start testing them,” he said.
