Miramichi proposes bylaw change that would allow AI data centres

The City of Miramichi is proposing a bylaw amendment to allow for the construction and operation of data centres and battery storage facilities. The city announced the proposed changes in a post on its Facebook page on Sunday, July 12, along with a date for a public hearing. The amendment would “permit data centres and [...]

Article content The City of Miramichi is proposing a bylaw amendment to allow for the construction and operation of data centres and battery storage facilities. The city announced the proposed changes in a post on its Facebook page on Sunday, July 12, along with a date for a public hearing. The amendment would “permit data centres and battery energy storage facilities within heavy industrial’ (HI) zones.”

Mayor Véronique Arsenault said the Miramichi bylaw change was recommended by city staff. “Our economic development department came to council and said we propose this amendment to the current bylaw for heavy industrial sites,” she said. Arsenault said council is not obligated to act on recommendations from staff, but she said it felt like this one was important to bring forward.

“Let’s have that discussion in public,” she said. “I’m a big fan of actually having the conversation with the community because, since this started circulation (on Sunday), I’ve heard from a variety of opinions on this and so it’s really important for me to understand all of the information that I can before we make a decision as a council.” A 390-megawatt AI data centre proposed for the Saint John’s Spruce Lake Industrial Park has been met with widespread criticism and protests.

That proposed hyperscale data centre, which is currently undergoing a provincial environmental impact assessment, is expected to be powered in part by an on-site, natural gas-fired generation facility but also through the NB Power grid, according to EIA documents. The project is expected to need 200 megawatts from NB Power, which recently secured regulatory approval for a 400-megawatt natural gas plant to be built in Tantramar to deal with the province’s looming energy shortfall. Last November, Energy Minister René Legacy told Brunswick News that he had no plans to introduce legislation to block NB Power from selling electricity to AI data centres despite a similar ban being in place for cryptocurrency mining operations.

Online, reaction to the Miramichi’s bylaw has been mostly negative, although it has garnered some support in the comments accompanying the city’s Facebook post. Arsenault said she was prepared for the negative reactions. “I was absolutely ready for a lot of conversation and a lot of feelings about any kind changes, especially a bylaw of this nature that would allow this kind of operation here in the community”, she said.

One of those opposed to the idea is Miramichi East MLA Michelle Conroy. “I have serious concerns about these data centres. Why are we considering this when so many other places that have them are fighting against them?”

Conroy said in an email. Her Progressive Conservative party supported a recent motion in the provincial legislature calling for a moratorium on data centres in reaction to a proposed 390-megawatt data centre in Lorneville. That motion was defeated.

“Besides the serious dangers they have on the environment like using an insane amount of water and electricity, there are now talks of the possible harm to wildlife and bees. They also drive up electricity bills which people already can’t afford and they put off a constant loud humming noise that can be heard a half mile away from them,” Conroy said. Arsenault said even if the bylaw is passed by council, it doesn’t necessary mean there is going to be a data centre or battery facility.

She also said council can regulate how those facilities operate. “It doesn’t pass as a blanket ‘come on in and do whatever you want’ kind of motion. There can be regulations or requirements.

A lot of best practices and information sought before-hand, obviously, so that council can make those decisions on the night of the vote,” she said. The mayor was asked if the city has had discussions with any company or companies in particular about operating facilities in Miramichi. “There’s been a couple of discussions, absolutely, that have come up around this.

Has there been a specific proposal brough to council for consideration? No,” she said. As for whether or not she supports the idea of building such facilities in the community, the mayor said it is too early for her to form an opinion.

“There’s entirely too much for me to learn before I make that decision. This is not something that I had looked into beforehand and it wasn’t something that was heavily on my radar. one way or another, and it sounds cliche, it sounds like a line, but I really want to hear from the community and I want to learn as much as I can before we make that decision,” she said.

Objections to the proposed bylaw may be presented in writing to council. The draft bylaw is available to read at miramichi.org. The public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4 at 6:15 p.m. at Tyra’s Infinity Centre, 1 Marina Dr., in Douglastown.

— with files from Barbara Simpson