Thousands of residents in Sherbrooke, Quebec, have voiced their opposition to a proposed large-scale data center project, citing concerns over lack of transparency from the municipal council. Worries about the environmental impact and noise generated by the project have led residents to demand environmental assessments and public discussions. Questions have been raised about the decision to allow a U.S.-based company to construct a massive data center in the local area.
Jayson Roy, a resident actively involved in the petition, highlighted the city’s selective focus on the perceived benefits of the project while disregarding specific concerns and broader implications. He emphasized that the issue extends beyond individual issues and requires a comprehensive approach.
The city is moving forward with a deal involving Keel Infrastructure, a U.S. firm formerly known as Bitfarms, with the recent approval by the city council for the conditional sale of land on Industriel Boulevard to the company. Many residents view this development as a recurrence of past controversies related to cryptocurrency operations by the same company, which faced criticism for noise levels and energy consumption.
Roy, who works in the tech industry, expressed unease about digital sovereignty and raised doubts about the project’s alignment with the interests of the local community. He stressed the importance of supporting Quebec or Canadian companies instead of foreign entities to ensure economic benefits stay within the region.
In response to the backlash, Sherbrooke officials clarified that the deal with Keel Infrastructure is not finalized and only represents a preliminary step for negotiating the sale of a specific land parcel. Mayor Marie-Claude Bibeau emphasized the financial advantages of the project for the city, citing significant revenue from electricity sales through Hydro-Sherbrooke.
While the company has 180 days to complete necessary studies and meet city-imposed conditions, Bibeau assured that measures like closed-circuit cooling systems and stringent environmental studies would be implemented to address concerns over water waste and noise levels. The mayor also emphasized the importance of maintaining digital sovereignty and the need for local capacity in data hosting.
Keel Infrastructure announced plans for a public information session to address resident questions and clarified that the data center project is designed to minimize water usage and electricity consumption. The company underscored its commitment to transparent communication and emphasized the need to evaluate the new project independently from past operations.