REGINA — A data centre could soon be built near Regina in the RM of Sherwood.
Documents from a Feb. 9 special council meeting requested a rezoning of land from agricultural to light industry.
The RM received a letter of intent for the change from 102226744 Saskatchewan Ltd., confirmed to be Bell Canada, from submissions sent by Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina.
Last year, Bell announced its intent to build AI facilitates in B.C and across Canada to support its national fibre plan.
The data centre would be built on approximately 160 acres of land located between the corner of Range Road 2194 (Park Street) and Old Highway 16, east of where Wascana Parkway and Ring Road merge.
According to Bell Canada, the data centre will serve as a critical digital infrastructure.
“The facilities will support universities, health care, public-sector services, and Canadian businesses with secure, made-in-Canada computing capacity, helping keep sensitive data and innovation within the country.”
In their submission, the City of Regina waived a requirement for a concept/secondary plan to facilitate the development.
Meanwhile, nearby residents of the development expressed concerns related to noise pollution from agriculture.
“This could make parts of our property too noisy for any use, without any protection or compensation,” noted one resident.
However, representatives of Bell Canada said “a data centre produces no process effluent and has tightly controlled emissions and sound levels.”
Bell Canada plans to expedite the project’s first phase of a 91,000-square-foot building this year.
For the site, water will be provided through private cisterns, while wastewater will be handled by a private septic system. A drainage plan must also be submitted as part of the development approval process.
