Concerns Regarding Proposed AI Data Cente

Hello,

I live in Fort Saskatchewan and have been in Alberta for about ten years. I work as an electrician and I’ve also worked in tech before in New Brunswick.

I have concerns about the proposed AI data center. These facilites use a lot of utlitiles  which are already under pressure here, and any major industrial load tends to push costs up for everyone else. Expanding local infrastructure isn’t free and those bills usually end up on residents and municipalities.

Another issue is that data centers don’t create many permanent jobs. Once they’re built, it’s mostly automated with a small technical staff. For the amount of land, power, and water they need, the economic return is very low compared to projects in energy, or manufacturing, which at least provide long-term employment and revenue.

It also feels like a strange fit for Sturgeon county . Our local economy is built around energy and heavy industry. A AI center doesn’t plug into that at all  it doesn’t use local supply chains and it doesn’t match the workforce here. It’s not obvious why it’s being placed here instead of somewhere with surplus utilities and the right infrastructure for it, such as say Nisku

There’s also the risk that the project just becomes a stranded asset. We’ve seen how companies can walk away from things when they stop making money, leaving communities to deal with the mess and the higher costs afterward.

Considering the low benefits and high demand on utilities and land, I don’t think this project makes sense for the area.

Thanks for reading.

A concerned resident,
Taylor Lavoie