REGINA – The opposition New Democrats have sent a letter to SaskPower demanding answers from them about the implications of the Bell AI Data Centre project.
The NDP have provided SaskToday a copy of the letter sent to Rupen Pandya, President and CEO of SaskPower, which was penned by NDP critic for technology and AI Brittney Senger and critic for SaskPower Aleana Young.
That letter, dated July 2, included 30 specific questions on the Bell AI Data Centre project, to be built in the RM of Sherwood south of Regina.
The questions included specific ones on the precise electricity rate structure that will apply to the Bell AI data centre; whether Bell would be served under an existing SaskPower rate schedule or under a customized or negotiated rate arrangement; whether SaskPower provided Bell with such things as rate discounts, rate stabilization, price cap rebates, or financial incentives among others; whether SaskPower has undertaken analysis of the impacts of the Bell arrangements; whether Bell was receiving any guarantees; and what transmission and infrastructure is required, among many others.
In speaking to SaskToday Young outlined the reasons why they sent the letter to SaskPower.
“We have a massive new development in Saskatchewan in Bell's data centre,” said Young.
“300 megawatts is about five per cent of our grid, and what we don't have is any transparency from the government around this development, around this deal, and no clarity when it comes to how this is going to be powered and who is going to pay for it.”
Young pointed out that the NDP had attempted through “committees, through different ministries, through the House, through FOIs, to get any information for the people of Saskatchewan on this data centre and have been stonewalled by the Sask Party at every opportunity.”
She said they have now written directly to Sask Power with what she called very specific questions that are reasonable, because “people deserve transparency around how we're going to power this and who is going to pay for it.”
Young said that “SaskPower customers, the people of Saskatchewan, have a right to understand whether the arrangements that have been entered into with Bell balance important economic development opportunities with SaskPower's obligation to provide affordable and reliable power to the people of this province.”
“Again, 300 megawatts is a massive demand and this is on a Crown corporation that is showing a $300 million loss in the last year that is charging people twice through rate increases and through a direct subsidy from the other Crowns, and are now taking on what might be the largest customer in the province with no transparency around what the impacts on rates are going to be, what the marginal cost of power is going to be, where those 300 megawatts are going to come from, and what Bell is paying for.”
The Sask Party government has pushed back in recent weeks against NDP criticism of the AI data centre project. In a recent response to NDP concerns about a separate Moose Jaw data centre project being proposed, the government issued a statement on Friday slamming the NDP’s position.
“At a time when jurisdictions across North America are competing for major private-sector investment, the NDP is predictably campaigning against projects that have the potential to create jobs and grow Saskatchewan’s economy," they stated. "Our government will continue to support investment, backed by Saskatchewan’s regulatory processes, because we believe that Saskatchewan should be open for business.”
Young dismissed the government’s response to the NDP on AI data centres.
“The hyperbole is predictable, if nothing else," Young said. "Economic development is critical. There's not a political party in the universe who's working against the economy. Frankly, it's stupid, and I don't expect any more of the Sask Party government.”
Young made clear she was concerned about the need for transparency from the government.
“Again, data centres are here to stay. There have been data centres in Saskatchewan for years. They're not going away, but what is novel is a deal of this size and a project of this size with zero consultation, with zero information, and the Sask Party government saying ‘don't ask us any questions, and if you do, you must hate the economy.’ It's nonsense.”
Young also pointed to public opinion in her own constituency on the project.
“I've been out door knocking in my constituency throughout the last couple months. I represent the south end of Regina and Scott Moe and Jeremy Harrison have done something fairly magical based on the conversations I'm having on the doorstep. They've managed to unite public opinion between the more anti-AI activists and the very pragmatic, largely retired seniors in Regina who are concerned about a 300 megawatt development going in a couple kilometers from their backyards, a kilometre away from a long-term care home for dementia patients and people with acquired brain injuries, with no open house, no information, no regulations, no environmental or noise assessment, and again, no clarity on what the costs are going to be to existing SaskPower customers.”
Young said the Crown corporation “has an obligation to provide reliable and affordable power to the people of this province, and I look forward to Mr. Pandya's response.”
