Thousands of residents in Sherbrooke, Quebec, have expressed opposition to a planned large-scale data center, citing concerns about transparency from the municipal council. The residents are worried about the potential environmental impact and noise generated by the project. They are calling for thorough environmental assessments, open public discussions, and are questioning the decision to allow a U.S.-based company to construct a massive data center in their vicinity.
Jayson Roy, a local resident leading the petition with over 4,500 signatures, criticizes the city for downplaying specific worries and neglecting broader perspectives. He emphasizes that the issues at hand are more complex than what is being acknowledged. The city is moving forward with the agreement with Keel Infrastructure, a U.S. firm formerly known as Bitfarms, after the city council recently approved the conditional sale of land for the project on Industriel Boulevard.
Residents are drawing parallels to past cryptocurrency ventures by the same company which faced backlash due to noise and energy usage concerns. Roy, who works in the tech sector, also raised the issue of digital sovereignty, suggesting that having a local or national company involved might be preferable over supporting a foreign enterprise.
In response to the backlash, Sherbrooke officials clarified that the deal is not yet finalized and Mayor Marie-Claude Bibeau emphasized that the current approval only authorizes negotiations for the sale of land, not the construction itself. The financial incentives of the project are highlighted, with annual revenues from electricity sales being a significant contributor to the city’s budget.
The city has set a 180-day timeline for Keel Infrastructure to complete necessary studies, finalize plans, and meet city-imposed conditions. Bibeau assures that the data center will implement advanced cooling systems to minimize water wastage and noise levels. The company plans to conduct various impact studies and stresses that no approvals have been granted without scrutiny.
Not all local officials are in favor of the project, with some citing concerns over transparency. Keel Infrastructure has acknowledged the residents’ questions and plans to address them in a forthcoming public information session. The company asserts that the data center will not lead to increased power consumption and aims to dispel comparisons to its past operations, emphasizing improvements and compliance with regulations.