Following a unanimous vote from the Reeve and council, Bell now has the RM of Sherwood’s approval for a zoning change allowing the expansion of an AI data centre to be built at the existing site. The small council chambers were at capacity for the meeting on Thursday. Members of the public who wanted to speak waited outside in the cold to get a chance at addressing the council. Concerns ranging from sound frequencies emitted by the centre that could impact wildlife, to the very use of AI itself were raised at the meeting. Local landowners adjacent to the now under construction data centre raised questions about what will be done with the wells currently located on the proposed land for expansion and if roads will be paved with all the extra traffic. But Dan Rink, President of Bell AI Fabric – infrastructure and strategy, said lots of misconceptions about the project are still being talked about. “You continue to hear about the millions of litres of water we’re going to use when its just not the case, it’s a closed loop system. It uses about the same water in a 15-year period as a golf course does in one day,” he explained. Many of the concerns and the data behind the concerns are from locations in the USA, but Rink says here in Canada, the regulations are much stronger to keep communities safe. “We’re very thoughtful about the design of these facilities, and these facilities are designed for Canada right? For Canadian laws, Canadian regulations, and the Canadian regulations are strong,” Rink said. At the legislature on Thursday, the NDP said they are concerned with the potential for an increase to Saskatchewan residents’ power bills, a fact the government says they have accounted for. “Our energy security strategy has enabled us to actually be in a position to provide power to the Bell data centre, a brand-new client, a significant source of new revenue for Sask Power,” Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Jeremy Harrison said. The NDP said they are also curious as to why the bylaw vote from council had to be put on the agenda just days before a new council will be elected to relieve four councillors of their positions. NDP MLA Erika Ritchie said the people are not properly represented, “Without allowing the duly elected council, that’s happening on Monday, to do their due diligence and due process.” Motions for the bylaws, a memorandum of understanding, and development agreement were all carried unanimously by the RM of Sherwood council voting 6-0 with one councilor abstaining from the process due to conflict of interest. The project expansion will now begin its environmental process with the provincial government and ministry of environment. CTV News, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg are divisions of Bell Media, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc.
