General Discussion

we have 22 Centers in operation and Smith is inviting a ton more, at least 27 already proposed for the near future. One of those proposed location is in Olds, Alberta but the residents are protesting and there is big pushback.

Here is a good article on what's happening in Alberta by the University of Calgary's Office of Institutional Commitments – Sustainability

Will AI Data Centres Raise Water and Power Use in Alberta?

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Albertans are already experiencing the effects of human-caused climate change. Climate change occurs when greenhouse gas emissions, usually from burning fossil fuels, create a heat-trapping layer in the atmosphere that acts like a blanket. The rising global temperatures cause more severe weather events, such as flooding and hailstorms, wildfires, and drought.

Ongoing drought has had a significant effect on Alberta’s agricultural sector. In the Peace Region, where the Wonder Valley project is set for construction, both livestock and grain producers have struggled owing to drought. A July 2025 Provincial Crop Report showed that “79.1% of hay and pasture land in the region was rated as “poor” to “fair” — a 39% increase over the five-year average.” A 2024 report on the Peace and Slave River watershed also noted that while northern Alberta has abundant fresh water, human activity has started to affect the watershed. Eventually, the report warns, the economies that rely on the watershed will feel the effects, too.

Even Alberta’s cities have felt the effects. Reduced snowpack and lower precipitation have revealed how fragile our municipal water supply can be — in 2025, Calgarians, already facing water restrictions due to drought, discovered how quickly water supply could deplete when they had to curb usage to deal with a massive water main break. Our supply of fresh water is precious and finite, and data centres could jeopardize it. In 2023, Microsoft reported that 41% of its water withdrawals — used for data centres — were in areas experiencing water stress.

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Meeting the demand for AI, which requires tens of gigawatts beyond what the grid already produces, could affect the quality of life for Albertans in several ways. These data centres could:

Drive up the price for power if gas plants or transmission upgrades cost more than planned, especially if tech companies negotiate favourable rates that shift the cost of power generation to the general public.

Increase noise and air quality concerns for people living near the sites. On-site gas plants and large cooling systems have affected people living near data centres in other communities, and have been a major concern for citizens of Olds, where the Synapse data centre has been proposed.

Require upgrades to water infrastructure, with citizens paying for some of the cost. This has also happened in other communities where data centres have been built.

more

https://ucalgary.ca/sustainability/mobilizing-alberta/climate-action-blogs/will-ai-data-centres-raise-water-and-power-use-alberta

Well worth the read, imo, as the data provided here also would apply across North America to some degree or other.