Developers who want to build a massive data centre near High River will speak about the project during an upcoming public hearing.
Beacon Data Centres is planning a $4-billion data centre on the east side of Highway 2, near 498 Avenue in Foothills County, within the Foothills Crossing Area Structure Plan (ASP).
The developer applied to the County for ASP and land-use changes to allow a data centre on the site, and a public hearing will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 1:30 p.m. during Foothills County’s council meeting.
As planned, the Beacon Foothills Artificial Intelligence Hub would include five two-storey buildings and related infrastructure on a 260-acre site to store and process information and power AI computing.
During an open house for the project in December, a consultant said there are no operational data centres in Alberta at that scale, and proponents say it will bring economic growth and create 300 jobs when operational.
Following the public hearing, council can grant first reading to bylaws approving the changes to the ASP and land use rules.
Conditions can be imposed that need to be met before the bylaws are adopted, and development permits would be needed prior to construction, Foothills County said.
The Government of Alberta is positioning the province as a leading destination for investment in data centres, hoping to attract $100 billion in new development over the next five years.
