County of Essex to have study done on AI data centres

The County of Essex will invest up to $150,000 to have a study prepared on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Density Data Centres.

At last week’s regular council meeting, Manager of Planning Services presented a report that will see the cost come out of the Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund.

“Due to the significant work already in the planning department, it is recommended that a contract be pursued for these specialized consulting services,” said Belanger.

Essex County residents have voiced their concerns about the Data Centers including extreme energy consumption, water depletion, continuous noise pollution and intense heat.

A lengthy conversation at the county council table wanted to ensure that all seven municipalities would have access to the information contained in the study.

“I want to make sure that whoever we hire to do this study, they will do it on behalf of the whole county and then they will make recommendations to the whole county,” said Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue.

Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara said that this is a critical stage for the county and a common baseline should be found to benefit all regional municipalities.

Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt at first objected to the study but later voted in favour of it going ahead.

During the meeting, he felt it should be up to the individual municipalities and commented, “I don’t see the advantage of the county spending $90,000-150,000 as you (Belanger) mentioned, the county’s role is limited.”

Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb felt that a county approach was the best way to go.

“There are times when we are seven individual municipalities and times when we are one county and I think this is one of those times when we are one county.”

In her report, Belanger noted that in June, the Government of Canada announced Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: “AI for All.” While the provincial government has no regulated framework, it has released a draft playbook for public input regarding grid connection framework. 

“I’ve had some residents ask if legislative changes and these (data centres) become mandated, what happens to what we are working on?,” asked LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata.

Belanger responded that the county would have to wait and see and consider its options.

Belanger noted that the study, which could go out as an RFP later this month, will, among other things, look very closely at both the county and local official plans.

“This is such a unique land use and the implications associated with the land use is something we’ve never contemplated before.”

County of Essex to have study done on AI data centres

By Fred Groves