CTV News Calgary has reported:

Calgary councillors will discuss starting work on rules for future large-scale data centre applications in the coming weeks, while a land use redesignation proposal for a northeast site is under review. The proposal covers “large industrial buildings (data centre)” on a large, undeveloped area east of 52nd Street and 144th Avenue N.E., north of the Redstone community.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said he generally supports the direction taken by Rocky View County council, which voted in July for a temporary pause on new data centre applications while it develops a framework. “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,” Farkas told CTV News.

Coun. Raj Dhaliwal represents the area covered by the Calgary application. He said the scale of the proposal has not been tested in the city and that he will press for caution and detailed scrutiny. “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,” Dhaliwal said. “To me, this is like putting a cart in front of the horse.”

The application seeks permission for large industrial buildings and large power generation for a data centre, as well as natural areas and stormwater retention ponds. Public submissions on the proposed land use redesignation are being accepted until Friday. Approval of the land use change would not by itself authorize construction: proponents would still have to apply for a development permit.

The site is owned by real estate asset management company Walton and forms part of its 710-acre North Point Industrial area. Stantec is listed as the applicant for the land use change. CTV News said multiple requests for comment to Stantec and Walton had gone unanswered.

Dhaliwal said Calgary council will need to direct city administration to establish a process and develop standards addressing data centre noise, water use 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.

Sarah Yurchevich, who is with the group Alberta Data Centre Watch, welcomed the city’s scrutiny and said officials need to understand companies’ future plans. “It’s a really good thing that the City of Calgary is kind of raising an eyebrow and looking at this,” she said. Yurchevich asked whether a facility might be decommissioned in 30 years, leaving landfills of technology debt and unused equipment, and raised questions about emissions and noise impacts.