Thousands of Sherbrooke, Quebec residents have expressed opposition to a planned large-scale data center that they believe is being pushed forward by the city council with limited transparency. Concerns raised by residents include the potential environmental impact and noise from the project. They are advocating for comprehensive environmental assessments, public discussions, and questioning the decision to allow a United States-supported company to construct a massive data center in their community.
Jayson Roy, leading the petition with over 4,500 signatures, emphasized that the city is selectively highlighting the project’s benefits while disregarding specific worries and neglecting the broader implications. He stressed that the issues at hand extend beyond individual aspects. The city of Sherbrooke is progressing with an arrangement with Keel Infrastructure, a US-based company previously known as Bitfarms. This move has sparked unease among many residents due to past criticisms of noise and energy consumption related to prior cryptocurrency ventures by the same company.
Residents like Roy are troubled not only by the potential impacts on the environment but also by the lack of transparency and consultation with the community throughout the decision-making process. Roy, who works in the technology sector, pointed out concerns about the project’s implications for digital sovereignty, highlighting the preference for a Quebec or Canadian entity over a foreign corporation in such a significant venture.
In response to the public backlash, Sherbrooke officials have clarified that the deal with Keel Infrastructure is not yet finalized. Mayor Marie-Claude Bibeau stated that the recent conditional approval merely authorizes negotiations for the sale of a specific lot in an industrial zone, not immediate construction. Municipal leaders emphasized the financial benefits, citing significant revenue generated by electricity sales through Hydro-Sherbrooke, equivalent to a considerable tax reduction for local residents. Bibeau highlighted the forthcoming studies, business plan finalization, and compliance with city-imposed conditions required by Keel Infrastructure in the next 180 days.
Regarding concerns about noise and environmental impact, Bibeau assured that rigorous studies would be conducted to address these issues. She emphasized the use of advanced cooling systems to minimize water wastage and noise levels. The company plans to operate backup generators during peak winter periods to reduce strain on the grid. Despite criticisms of previous cryptocurrency mining operations, the company assured that the new data center would operate with reduced noise levels and be situated in an industrial area. Consultations with Hydro-Québec and Hydro-Sherbrooke are planned before the project receives final approval.
While the city is moving forward with the project, not all elected officials are in favor. Three councillors from Sherbrooke Citoyen expressed reservations, citing concerns about transparency and the need for more information and public engagement. Keel Infrastructure acknowledged the residents’ questions and clarified details about the project, highlighting minimal water usage and consolidation of existing electrical capacity instead of requesting additional power generation.
The company announced plans for a public information session in the upcoming months to address community concerns and differentiate the new data center project from past operations. Keel Infrastructure stressed the importance of evaluating the proposed data center based on current information and merits as it becomes available.