Vancouver and Kamloops are set to become a hub for a new cluster of data centers through a collaborative effort between Telus and the federal government. The initiative, announced by AI Minister Evan Solomon in Vancouver, aims to enhance Canada’s “sovereign compute capacity” and boost competitiveness in the global AI economy for domestic businesses and academic institutions.
Under the plan, Telus will expand its existing data center in Kamloops and establish two new facilities in Vancouver as part of Ottawa’s initiative for large-scale sovereign AI data centers. The first Vancouver center, located at the former Hootsuite headquarters in Mount Pleasant, along with the Kamloops project, is expected to be operational later this year. A second facility at 150 West Georgia Street is projected to come online by 2029, with an initial power draw of 85 megawatts scaling up to 150 megawatts by 2032.
Telus CEO Darren Entwistle highlighted the environmental benefits of the project, stating that the facilities will run on 98% clean hydro power, recycle waste energy to heat 150,000 homes, and use 90% less water than traditional data centers. Additionally, plans are in place to incorporate recycled water from B.C. Place stadium.
The B.C. government has shown support for the project, aligning with its own AI data center power policy introduced in January. The policy mandates a competitive bid process for companies seeking a portion of the 400-megawatt electricity cap over the next two years, prioritizing projects that promote data sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and First Nations involvement.
While the initiative has received praise from political leaders, there has been opposition to the construction of new data centers in B.C. The proposal for a facility in Nanaimo has faced criticism over concerns about water consumption. B.C. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan raised objections, advocating for a moratorium on new data centers until stricter regulations and environmental policies are in place.
The debate surrounding data center development and its impact on resources has sparked discussions globally, with communities expressing concerns over water and power usage. Studies have shown the significant water consumption of data centers, highlighting the need for sustainable practices in the tech industry.