Data Centers Skip Environmental Reviews in Alberta

0:00It's April 26th. I'm Cory with the story, and this is Canada News Today, local news powered by AI. Two, Alberta, Data Center projects just got a pass on mandatory environmental impact assessments. Synapse is planning a one-gigawatt campus in Oles with its own natural gas power plant, and the Woodland-Cree First Nations Mita-A-Sky project. Dodge a federal review. Both decisions came down on March 3rd. Following the same path is Kevin O'Leary's massive $70 billion Wonder Valley AI hub of North. Meanwhile, officials say these projects aren't classified as must-have assessments under current laws, like Alberta's Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. They're treating them more like standard power plants, which don't trigger the full checks. Still, companies need other permits for air, land, water, and safety before breaking ground. Locals and Olds are fired up, worried about noise, emissions, and living right next to a huge gas plant.

1:02One resident nailed it, saying no one builds these things beside homes without checking human health impacts. Even technology minister Nate Glubish admitted at a town hall he'd never choose to live that clothes himself. Experts like University of Calgary Law, Prefeth David Wright, argue the rules are outdated for this AI boom. Data centers guzzle electricity and water, but without upfront assessments, you can't manage what you don't measure. Some outfits, like East Structures Calgary Area Spot, did full reviews, showing it's not always a free pass. As Alberta races to build digital infrastructure, calls are growing to update the legislation and define data centers properly. These exemptions highlight the tension between fast growth in real safeguards for communities and the environment.