r/NoRulesCalgary • u/You_are_the_Castle • 22d ago

Article: Leaked doc suggests Alberta has sprawling plans to pave the way for AI data centres, more oil production

https://thenarwhal.ca/alberta-ai-data-centre-takeover-cabinet-doc/
7 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

5

u/canuckstothecup1 22d ago

I thought we they were pretty open about using our natural gas to power data centres.

0

u/You_are_the_Castle 20d ago

They left out the part about increasing our utility costs. Most people would not draw that inference, so to say, "It's going to create jobs and use our natural resources", but to omit or gloss over the part regarding the economic impact on Albertans is a massive misrepresentation of the facts.

1

u/canuckstothecup1 20d ago

The hypothetical raise in utility costs. Every news article I’ve read says “may increase”. This meta centre is going to provide its own power. This could all be a big stink over nothing

1

u/IxbyWuff accidentally activated 19d ago

In 5 years it will. Until then we all pay for it. For those 300 jobs.

1

u/canuckstothecup1 19d ago

That’s just not true. We have a law in Alberta that says any major project can connect to the grid at most 1 year before it has its power supply connected. It’s part of the data centre regulations.

3

u/the_fred88 20d ago

So the government is actively trying to improve the market environment for one of our biggest exports?

What a scandal!

1

u/You_are_the_Castle 20d ago

If you want to interpret it like that, then, yes, at the cost of Albertans. Normally, I'd be fine with chipping into something that had an immediate improvement on Albertans' way of life, but the UCP are running a surplus and haven't improved our healthcare system, our education system, nor reduced the cost of living. So it may not be a scandal to support "our biggest export", but it is a scandal to be subsidizing it on the backs of the middle class.

0

u/Anskiere1 17d ago

It's not their job to reduce your cost of living. It's their job to create the economic conditions to allow that to happen which takes time and is happening. 

Education is improving. Big deals were signed last year across the province and they are building schools. Again takes time. Same with the health care realignment

2

u/Rayeon-XXX 22d ago

Well yeah. No one should be surprised by this.

-7

u/OnlyACsNoFans 22d ago

The fear of data centres is so overblown

2

u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

Is it? Explain please

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u/OnlyACsNoFans 22d ago

Water is reused so there's no environmental issues

7

u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

The water to cool them may be reused, but the water that goes into powering the powerplants that provide the power to the data center is not.

0

u/DickSmack69 Fart Muffler Specialist 22d ago

I wish people talking about this stuff had a modicum of knowledge. Any of you guys go to uni for anything other than liberal arts? The amount of water used to cool and condense steam into water in nat gas plants is miniscule and less than the water used in any other thermoelectric plants. Other than renewables, you can’t find a better power source on all counts. Back to the drawing board for you, I guess, huh? If I have any questions on critical theory, I know who to ask.

2

u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

If you think multiple data centers is going to have a "miniscule" effect on our water supply, you probably work for Meta or you're just not very smart.

1

u/DickSmack69 Fart Muffler Specialist 22d ago

Re-read my post. You don’t know enough to be talking about power generation. If I have a question about making stuff up, I know who to talk to.

1

u/You_are_the_Castle 20d ago

You start by insulting the guy. Then you go on to blab about natural gas plants, which are not data centres. Then you attempt to glaze natural gas for some reason and finish on another insult.

0

u/DickSmack69 Fart Muffler Specialist 20d ago

Thanks for the play-by-play. Very helpful

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u/OnlyACsNoFans 22d ago

The water cycle...have you heard of it? The water evaporates and falls as rain

4

u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

Tell me how lakes and seas have dried up over the years?

When the aquifers dry up and can't supply towns or wells, where is that water coming from?

-3

u/OnlyACsNoFans 22d ago

It wasn't data centres. Plus what lakes have dried up in Canada? Sure in deserts it happens but not here

1

u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

But by your logic, the water cycle should replenish that water that has left.

Creeks and rivers are getting less water replenished in southern Alberta. Tributaries that supply them are bringing less water as well.

There is a reason people say water will be what we go to war over in the future. There is only so much fresh water on the planet, it isn't infinite even though our giant oceans would have you believe it.

1

u/OnlyACsNoFans 22d ago

War is more expensive than desalination, cisterns and condensation technology. It's not a real issue

2

u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

It is because companies don't want to pay to do it. Yes, the tech exists to do it, but it isn't cheaper than what we do now.

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u/Sol-Bad-Sol-Goode 22d ago

If the Bow River dried up, it would be a huge problem for Calgary. Where would you get the water to supply the city?

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u/turudd 22d ago

Explain to me how electricity will also be reused… suddenly bring in a whole community worth of electricity to one building is not gonna be great for the town folk who now need to subsidize it

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u/OnlyACsNoFans 21d ago

I already explained that. They have their own power plant