Discussions of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres remain front and centre in Cambridge, with councillors agreeing to prepare the city for the opportunities and associated concerns in the years ahead.
At a recent meeting, councillors introduced a motion to examine possible locations for future data centres and the policies that may be needed if more come to the city.
That motion stated it would direct staff to “evaluate and identify appropriate locations and policy considerations for potentially but not necessarily future data centre development.”
“There’s a big concern with all the cities on what’s coming forward,” said Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett.
“But we don’t want to restrict businesses that come from these data centres. They’re good, we need them; we can’t be left behind in technology. We have to have these, or we’ll be on the losing end of them. They’re very important to have. We need growth in this, but they need to be regulated.”
On top of the direct city-based focuses within the motion, it also would look to direct staff to press the provincial government to develop and release its Data Centre Playbook, which it has teased is in the works in recent weeks.
That playbook comes as cities and municipalities all across the province, including the Region of Waterloo at a recent meeting of its own, have worked to learn more about the economic, environmental, and social impacts associated with data centres.
RELATED:
‘It’s not going away’: Region pushing to learn impacts of local AI data centres
A large focus for the region during its recent meeting was around the impacts on its water capacity and the overall energy cost associated with their future development.
“So many municipalities in North America and around the world are getting caught because we don’t have guidelines in place,” said Liggett.
“There’s nothing out there to protect the residents.”
Liggett also stated that it wasn’t just local councillors and governments that need to be developing policies and taking notice of what changes were being made regarding those AI data centres, but other entities, including companies such as GrandBridge Energy, need to begin keeping a close eye on the topic as a whole.
She said it’ll take a unified effort to integrate and manage those data centres effectively and responsibly in the years ahead, but it will require attention from various organizations, levels of government, and other groups to avoid any potential shortsightedness.
Ultimately, councillors unanimously agreed to move forward with the motion, now allowing city staff to begin work on a report that would outline the potential impacts and effective locations for future data centres in the years ahead.
That report is expected to be brought back to council for review in early 2027.
Comments