County approves land use amendment for cryptocurrency mining facility
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wheatland County council passed third reading to redesignate a 64-hectare portion of land from agriculture general district to direct control district.
The land use bylaw amendment is to facilitate the development of a data center for cryptocurrency mining operations, located roughly six kilometers northwest of Strathmore.
Proposed in the application which was submitted to the county suggested development on the site would include a light industrial facility to house computer equipment and use of an existing gas fire power plant for electrical generation.
The proposal was also noted by county administration to be consistent with Municipal Development Plan criteria requiring commercial applications to demonstrate there will be no significant adverse impacts on the natural environment occupied by the development.
Cryptocurrency mining operations are facilities which house multiple computer servers that operate at high frequency. These servers complete an assortment of functions related to the generation and processing of cryptocurrency including but not limited to tracking digital transactions and processing data in order to generate digital currency.
Major potential impacts which were listed to county council by administration included noise and light, as well as high-energy consumption due to the frequent operation of similar facilities.
The proposed facility proposed to use existing oil and gas infrastructure which otherwise would have required decommissioning for its on-site power generation.
County administration also indicated data centers are not found to contribute significant positive impact to the local economy beyond that of the construction stage.
Typical concerns regarding development of this type include dust, odour, noise, and lighting, which were presented to be mitigated by the location of the facility, as well as by the proposed use of an on-site generator so as to limit noise impact to neighbouring properties.
Potential dust problems caused by increased traffic, particularly during construction are suggested to be mitigated by the use of water trucks to dampen the gravel road should traffic safety be noticeably impacted.
During the public hearing prior to the voting process on the land use amendment, no members of the public spoke in support of or against the proposal.
It was anticipated that the lifespan of the facility once developed will last between five and eight years, after which time it will be decommissioned.
Council voted unanimously in favour of carrying the land use bylaw amendment following discussion. All three readings were granted permission to be held during the Nov. 12 meeting.