Thousands of Sherbrooke, Quebec residents have expressed opposition to a proposed large-scale data center, citing concerns over lack of transparency by the municipal council. Worries about the environmental impact and noise levels of the project have prompted residents to demand environmental assessments and public discussions. Many are questioning the decision to allow a U.S.-based company to construct a massive data center in their community.
Jayson Roy, a resident leading the petition with over 4,500 signatures, criticized the city for downplaying specific concerns and failing to consider the broader implications of the project. He emphasized that the issues at hand go beyond individual problems and urged for a more comprehensive approach.
The City of Sherbrooke is moving forward with a deal with Keel Infrastructure, a U.S. company formerly known as Bitfarms. This move has triggered memories of past cryptocurrency operations by the same company that faced backlash for noise and energy consumption issues.
Roy, who works in the technology sector, raised worries about digital sovereignty and expressed a preference for a Quebec or Canadian company leading the project to ensure local economic benefits. He highlighted the lack of transparency in the decision-making process, with key documents being kept confidential.
Responding to the backlash, Sherbrooke officials clarified that the deal with Keel Infrastructure is not yet finalized. Mayor Marie-Claude Bibeau explained that the conditional approval only allows for negotiations on the sale of land, not immediate construction. She emphasized the financial benefits of the project, citing significant revenue generation for the city through electricity sales.
The company has been given 180 days to complete necessary studies, finalize business plans, and meet city-imposed conditions. Bibeau assured that measures like closed-circuit cooling systems and industrial location selection aim to minimize environmental impact and noise pollution. She stressed that thorough studies on social, noise, and environmental impacts will be conducted before any final decision is made.
Despite the reassurances, some elected officials, including three councillors from Sherbrooke Citoyen, have expressed reservations about the project, citing transparency concerns. Keel Infrastructure responded by acknowledging resident questions and asserting that the data center’s operations would have minimal impact on potable water consumption and electricity usage.
The company plans to organize a public information session in the upcoming months and emphasized that the proposed data center is distinct from its previous cryptocurrency mining activities. Keel Infrastructure urged for a fair evaluation of the project based on updated information as it becomes available.