Concerns with Beacon ai data centre

I oppose  Beacon Ai data centre  in my neighbourhood.  We have not been informed of this decision and the impacts will affect us for years to come.
I am writing as a concerned Sturgeon County landowner regarding the proposed Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project and the apparent support already being extended toward this development.

After reviewing the Initial Project Description submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, I believe many residents would be alarmed to learn the true scale of what is being proposed.

This is not simply a “data centre.”

The proposal includes:
• A 920 MW natural gas power generation facility
• 200 industrial natural gas engines operating continuously
• A 317-acre industrial campus
• Four large-scale AI data halls
• New transmission infrastructure and substations
• Massive energy consumption and significant municipal water usage
• Continuous industrial operations within close proximity to rural residents and agricultural lands

The project documents themselves state that only approximately 18 landowners within a 2 km radius were directly engaged during consultation. Many residents remain unaware of the scale and long-term implications of this development.

I am deeply concerned that Sturgeon County appears to be moving toward support of this project before broader public awareness and meaningful consultation have occurred.

This project raises serious concerns regarding:

• Long-term strain on electrical infrastructure and utilities
• Water allocation and long-term sustainability
• Industrial expansion into agricultural and rural areas
• Noise, lighting, traffic, and quality-of-life impacts
• Environmental and cumulative regional impacts
• Future expansion beyond the currently proposed footprint
• Transformation of the rural character of our region
• Lack of transparent public discussion regarding long-term consequences

While the project is located within the Industrial Heartland zone, that does not eliminate Council’s responsibility to ensure residents are properly informed and meaningfully consulted regarding projects of this magnitude.

The fact that the federal government determined “no further assessment” was required at such an early stage only increases the responsibility of municipal leaders to ensure proper scrutiny occurs locally.

I respectfully request that Sturgeon County:

1.  Hold additional public meetings specifically focused on this project;
2.  Publicly disclose all agreements, understandings, and communications related to County support for the project;
3.  Conduct a broader cumulative-impact review related to power demand, water usage, infrastructure, and regional growth impacts;
4.  Ensure nearby residents and landowners are fully informed before further approvals proceed; and
5.  Consider the long-term implications this type of AI and industrial infrastructure may have on the future of Sturgeon County and surrounding agricultural communities.

This project will permanently shape the future of our region. Residents deserve transparency, meaningful consultation, and careful consideration before decisions of this magnitude move forward.