Stone Mills declares itself unwilling host for hyperscale data centres

The measure passed by the slimmest of margins.

Stone Mills Township has declared itself an unwilling host for hyperscale data centres for the next year.

Stone Mills council approved the motion by Coun. Krista-Lee Woodcock by a one-vote margin Sept. 28. The motion calls on provincial and federal governments to establish enforceable rules addressing the environmental, social and economic impacts of large-scale data centres.

Woodcock said the motion is aimed at hyperscale facilities used to support artificial intelligence, rather than smaller traditional data centres.

She said the township does not currently have enough regulatory guardrails or technical expertise to assess the potential impacts of the emerging technology.

Coun. Rob Fenwick supported stronger regulations but opposed declaring the township an unwilling host. He said council should have the opportunity to review individual applications if they arise.

Woodcock said her concerns were partly prompted by the possibility of a 250-megawatt data centre being developed in Greater Napanee, near the Stone Mills boundary.

Mayor John Wise said the motion is largely symbolic and would not prevent a development application from reaching council.

The motion comes as governments across Canada consider how to regulate the growing data centre industry.

Story by Emily Chatwood