A massive data centre proposed in west-central Alberta is raising questions from area residents, who crowded into a recent series of information sessions.
Jack Williams says he would like to know more before he decides if the project, called Malachite One, is a good idea. The retired miner has lived in Robb, near the proposed site, since the 1950s.
“My main thing is that it doesn’t affect the environment,” said Williams, who serves as a councillor for Yellowhead County, along the eastern slopes of the Rockies, 250 kilometres west of Edmonton.
Jack Williams has lived in Robb, Alta., since the 1950s. He worked as a miner for years, before retiring and becoming a councillor for Yellowhead County. (Bob Grieve/CBC News)
“I wouldn’t want to see any major shifts in town here with noise or light, but from what I’ve been able to find out and by visiting the site, I don’t think those are threats,” he said in an interview in his woodworking shop.
Williams spoke to CBC News as a private citizen, not a county representative. Other Robb residents were reluctant to speak on the record.
Opinion in the area is divided, with some supporting the project and others raising concerns about water usage, noise, cost and data security. In a Robb community Facebook group, many question the benefits of a data centre, and artificial intelligence (AI) in general.
One post reads: “Why do we need so many AI data centres? For what — our very own digital prison, controlled by artificial intelligence?”
Another AI data centre proposed for rural Alberta
Tourmaline Oil Corporation plans to build Malachite One next to its active Banshee Gas Plant, which would supply power.
Texas-based Stream Data Centers would operate the facility, the latest in a string of proposed Alberta data centres — warehouses for computer equipment that processes data at high speeds.
More than 250 people attended open houses hosted by Tourmaline and Stream in Edson, Hinton and Robb over the past few weeks. In Robb, nearly half of the hamlet’s 150 residents turned up.
Oisín Ó Murchú is the chief development officer for Stream Data Centers, the company that will be running the technology within Malachite One if the project goes ahead. After attending all three open houses in the region, he says most residents asked questions about water use, data security, environmental impacts and employment opportunities. (Katie Teeling/CBC News)
Most attendees wanted to know about water use, noise, traffic and job opportunities, said Oisín Ó Murchú, chief development officer for Stream Data Centers.
“We’re hopeful that they’ll see that we’re a trustworthy company, and we’ve done the work to plan a project in a location that actually suits it so that it’s not going to interfere with people.”
Longtime residents Gerard Bearry and Sharon McGettigan attended the open house in Hinton. Bearry questioned the expense of the project — estimated at $15 billion for the data centre infrastructure — when it’s unclear whether there’s enough demand for such facilities.
Longtime Hinton residents Gerard Bearry and Sharon McGettigan attended the open house in Hinton, looking for more information on Malachite One. (Katie Teeling/CBC News)
“If we already had those things in place and we were in need of it, sure, but we’re trying to get data centres just in case in the future we might need it,” he said.
“I think we’re going to be left holding the bag if things go south,” McGettigan added.
Other residents say they believe Malachite One could bring some benefit and the community should seize the opportunity.
“If it doesn’t happen here, it’s going to happen somewhere else,” said Anthony Woods, who works at the Banshee Gas Plant.
Tourmaline and Stream also made presentations to the Edson, Hinton and Yellowhead County councils.
Yellowhead County council deputy mayor Brigitte Lemieux says that the county has not yet made a decision on whether it supports the project. (Katie Teeling/CBC News)
“We support continued industrial growth, but that means that this industrial development must be responsible development,” said Brigitte Lemieux, deputy mayor of Yellowhead County council, which has not stated an official position on the project.
“It has to be respective of our citizens, our communities, our land and our environment.”
Hinton Mayor Brian LaBerge said he’s satisfied that the developer has addressed residents’ concerns.
“I think that they have checked the boxes and, for me, I’m looking for the Alberta Energy Regulator and other provincial regulators to make sure that they follow the rules and they do what they say they’re going to do. But if they do that, it’s positive for this area.”
In mid-October, a Hinton resident launched a petition on Facebook to block the approval of Malachite One. She declined to provide a signature count before the petition’s Nov. 13 deadline.
Williams calls the effort “fearmongering.”
He’s optimistic about the project’s effects on his community.
Tourmaline Oil Corporation held a series of open houses in communities near its proposed Malachite One Data Centre in mid-October. In Hinton, the open house was held at the Hinton Centre. (Katie Teeling/CBC News)
“There’s some houses that have been for sale here for over two years, and being that Malachite One is going to be that close, hopefully we see some new faces in Robb and better utilization of our recreational facilities,” Williams said.
“It would really be nice to see another store and a gas station back in Robb.
“It’ll make the community a little bit more vibrant.”
The project is awaiting approval from the provincial government.
