FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nathan Ip, Shadow Minister for Technology and Innovation, issued the following statement:
“Eight months after the Premier shocked and disrespected Olds residents by informing them, via social media, that a massive power plant was being built right next to their homes, the Alberta Utilities Commission has halted the project.
“Today, the commission denied approval of the Synapse Data Centre Power Plant Project, concluding it’s ‘too close to the surrounding community, and Synapse failed to demonstrate any compelling justification for selecting that location.’
“The premier should take responsibility for this. She started a ‘concierge service’ for foreign billionaires while ignoring the very real concerns of Albertans. Her actions have now put many projects and jobs at risk.
“This is exactly why the Alberta NDP launched our AI Data Centre Consultation Tour. Residents, landowners, families, and Indigenous communities must be properly consulted before projects are approved and announced. That is the way to build community support and ensure that projects are built properly.
“When it comes to Danielle Smith’s rubber-stamping of AI data centres, Albertans have serious concerns about what these projects will do to our power and heating bills as well as the impacts to our air, land and water. The Alberta NDP is listening to residents as we develop our plan, because that is how good, honest democracy is done.”
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