The sun slips behind acres of rolling hills, slowly painting Wheatland County with hues of orange and yellow before giving way to moonlight.
That’s the way it’s been for nearly 20 years on the porch of Dawn Parnell’s home, south of Strathmore, Alta.
“We like the quiet, we are a small community,” she said. “It’s a place that we can relax.”
But a 3.5-million-square-foot artificial intelligence (AI) data centre may be moving in next door, only two kilometres from Parnell’s residence.
“This is rural life, so we are here to get away from all of that,” she said. “We don’t want this huge industrial development right next to homes.”
Another AI data centre proposed for rural Alberta
Data centre proposal in Olds ‘consuming’ the lives of some living next door
Kansas-based Diode Ventures is seeking approval to develop Goldfinch Technology Park, an approximately 230-hectare AI data centre campus, in the southwest corner of the county. The project is meant to include multiple buildings constructed across three phases.
Diode Ventures says the project could generate significant tax revenue and create hundreds of jobs.
Opposition dominated a July 7 public hearing, where 24 residents spoke against the proposal and one spoke in favour.
Residents raised concerns about noise, environmental impacts and what they describe as a lack of transparency.
“I’m very concerned about the noise,” Parnell said. “It’s 24/7. It’s been known to basically wreck people’s day-to-day living.”
Neighbours also said they were concerned about the health and environmental effects of data centres and their emissions.
“You can’t just build a berm and plant some trees and these impacts go away,” said Emily Barnett, a resident of Carseland, Alta., located just under three kilometres from the proposed development.
Barnett added that many questions remain unanswered.
“If you wanted to be a responsible development, you would give some information,” she said. “The transparency is not here.”
When plans for development were introduced in 2018, Barnett said the parcel of land was presented as light industrial land that could accommodate uses such as greenhouses and self-storage, while acting as a buffer between heavier industry and nearby homes.
Now, Diode Ventures is asking the county to designate that land as medium industrial to accommodate the proposed campus.
“Which we never signed up for in the first place,” said Parnell.
“We were told there would be no impacts that would leave the boundary,” said Barnett. “The discretionary use of medium intensity does allow for moderate impacts to go beyond the boundary.”
Barnett said the planning framework was put in place to reflect the needs of the community.
“If we have to change all of the framework to accommodate this project, then this isn’t the right project for the place,” said Barnett.
At the July 7 hearing, Wheatland County council approved the first two readings of two bylaws needed to move the proposal forward.
One would reclassify part of the Goldfinch Industrial Area structure plan from light to medium industrial. The second would change the site’s designation from agricultural to industrial land.
The bylaws have not yet taken effect, as Alberta municipalities must pass three readings before they become law. If ultimately approved, the changes would allow Diode Ventures to continue seeking development approvals.
Meta data centre in Alberta to start operating before neighbouring power plant
How Meta plans to cut down on water use at its massive Alberta data centre
“We are not obligated to approve anything in the future because of this decision, so I’m going to support this,” Coun. Shannon Leprise said at the hearing.
Coun. Glenn Koester said Diode addressed many of the concerns raised by residents.
“Their concerns were largely water consumption [and] noise,” Koester said. “And I thought Diode had answers for them.”
Both readings passed 5-2.
“I’m not in favour of this project. I won’t be voting for this. There was so much opposition, and that is on the industry,” said Coun. Donna Biggar.
Council rejected a third bylaw, that would have closed part of Range Road 264 to accommodate the campus, due to traffic and safety concerns. While not required for the project, the decision means Diode will have to revise its plans.
Under Alberta’s Artificial Intelligence Data Centre Strategy, large data centres are encouraged to supply their own power and use cooling systems that reduce water consumption.
Diode’s proposal includes an independently funded power plant, located off-site, and an air-based cooling system that does not rely on water.
The company has submitted planning applications to Wheatland County, with more detailed site plans, noise studies and power generation plans to follow if council approves the current rezoning requests.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, Diode said it has engaged with residents, businesses and county officials through the process to “help shape a project that has the potential to create meaningful jobs, strengthen the local economy and support long-term growth.”
“We remain committed to responsible development.”
But residents aren’t convinced.
“Responsible development, to me, would be agricultural-friendly businesses,” said Parnell. “I don’t know how a data centre of this magnitude is going to help us at all.”
“This does not meet the needs of any community outside of the tax base. We aren’t enriched by it,” said Barnett.
Council is scheduled to consider a third reading of the two rezoning bylaws on Aug. 11.
If passed, Diode Ventures will still need to continue pursuing final approvals before construction could begin.
Diode Ventures has said if its plans are approved, construction is expected to begin in mid-2028 and continue for six to eight years.
