Minister Nate Glubish and Premier Danielle Smith. (Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

STRATEGY DEVELOPED

Alberta looking to be destination of choice for AI data centre development

Dec 4, 2024 | 5:15 PM

The Government of Alberta is aiming to make Alberta the North American destination of choice for Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre investment.

Officials say an AI data centre attraction strategy will identify three pillars that create the foundation of Alberta’s work to position itself as a competitive player in the AI landscape: power capacity, sustainable cooling and economic diversification. In each of these areas, there are policy and regulatory levels and other steps required to ensure the province appears attractive and competitive for this emerging sector.

“Artificial intelligence is behind all the newest technologies we rely on to make our lives better, simpler, safer. There’s incredible opportunity around artificial intelligence and we are unafraid to dream big. This strategy will position Alberta as the place to invest and build AI data centres, further building on our reputation as a province with no limit to innovation and opportunity,” said Premier Danielle Smith.

The province’s abundant natural gas supply and world-class power industry are factors the government says make it a highly attractive location for data centre projects. It adds that Alberta’s competitive power industry offers many partnering opportunities between AI companies electricity sector players, who have decades of experience in finding innovative solutions to meet the industry’s needs while balancing affordability and reliability.

The government says AI data centres generate a lot of heat and require cooling. The AI data centre attraction strategy encourages operators to determine the cooling technology best suited for their needs, water license availability and regional and project circumstance. Additionally, the government says Alberta’s climate offers advantages for AI data centres because of the province’s cold winters, which should reduce the need for artificial cooling systems during that season.

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“Alberta is uniquely positioned to capture the AI data centre opportunity, leveraging our vast natural gas resources and pro-business environment to create thousands of high-quality jobs and attract billions in investment,” said Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish. “This strategy is not just about building infrastructure; it’s about fostering innovation and establishing Alberta as a hub for high-tech industries, driving economic growth and supporting critical public services like healthcare and education.”

Government officials say the province seeks to ensure Albertans benefit from AI data centres and is committed to ensuring economic growth and shared prosperity while ensuring Alberta continues to have the lowest taxes in Canada and is competitive across North America.

They add that Alberta is committed to fostering innovation and ensuring technology development aligns with industry needs.

Provincial officials say this strategy was developed after consultation with organizations and businesses in the AI space and market participants.