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B.C. Greens Call for a Pause in Building AI Data Centres in B.C.
Lowan and two Nanaimo councillors say the province should pause new data centres until stricter rules address water use, energy demand and oversight.
- On Thursday, March 14, Green Party leader Emily Lowan visited Nanaimo with councillors Hilary Eastmure and Paul Manly, calling for a temporary moratorium on all data centres.
- The campaign follows council's 2023 approval of a site-specific rezoning at 2090 East Wellington Rd, where a 18,000 square metre two-storey data centre received its development permit in March.
- Councillors and Lowan expressed concern that the centre's daily consumption of up to 69,000 litres of water faces only a $60,000 fine for overages, regardless of the volume.
- Manly raised "pertinent questions" regarding noise and water mitigation, while Eastmure advocated for a pause until the province establishes regulations, citing successful moratoriums in Ireland and the Netherlands.
- Proponents emphasize a need for sovereign data storage in Canada to avoid U.S. Patriot Act oversight, arguing that a pause enables responsible expansion of AI and data infrastructure.
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BIV News
BIV NewsB.C. Greens call for a pause in building AI data centres in B.C.
B.C. Greens Leader Emily Lowan is calling for a pause in building AI data centres in B.C. until the environmental, health and security risks of these facilities are properly understood and regulated.
·Kelowna, Canada
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Nanaimo News Bulletin+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
B.C. Green leader, local councillors express opposition to Nanaimo data centre
The B.C. Green Party leader’s call for a moratorium on data centres has the backing of two City of Nanaimo councillors. Emily Lowan visited Nanaimo on Thursday, March 14, joined by Nanaimo councillors Hilary Eastmure and Paul Manly, calling for a temporary pause on all data centres. The Green leader argued there should be further provincial regulations on proposed data centres, including AI data centres as well as data storage centres, similar t…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources6
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Left
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Left
75% Left
L 75%
C 25%
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