More than 20 major data centre developers/operators and data service providers have pledged support for the Canadian government’s newly unveiled principles for responsible data centre development. Those signatories are now expected to deliver on broad objectives for minimizing environmental impacts, bearing the costs of services they require, respecting host communities and contributing to economic growth.
“Data centres must protect ratepayers, respect water and energy resources and create lasting benefits for the communities that host them,” says Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. “These principles set a clear national standard: If you build in Canada, you must build responsibly and transparently and you must build for Canadians.”
The principles underscore that data centres should create lasting benefits for host communities and Indigenous rights holders that are evidenced in: employment and training of the local workforce; local procurement and infrastructure investment; research partnerships and access to compute resources for local business and institutions; and tax contributions. Developers are also expected to communicate clear, objectively verified information about electricity and water demand, sound emissions and other infrastructure requirements through early consultation with local communities.
Data centre developers must pay the costs of connecting their facilities to the power grid, including any required transmission/distribution upgrades and must not compromise grid reliability. They must minimize freshwater consumption, protect local water supplies and incorporate low-carbon technologies where possible. New data centres are also expected to have “strategic value” for Canada, as contributors to both the economy and digital sovereignty and resilience.
“No two data centre projects are alike, nor will they have the same impact. Municipal leaders need clear and complete information to make informed decisions,” observes Tim Tierney, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). “FCM welcomes the commitment by industry leaders to work closely with local governments, mitigate local impacts and ensure local benefits.”
Signatories from the data centre developer/operator sector include Equinix, eStruxture, Prologis, Urbacon Data Centre Solutions, Beacon Data Centers and Sovereign Digital Infrastructure.
