Ile des Chenes resident starts petition against AI data centre

An RM of Ritchot resident has started an online petition against a proposed build of a “hyperscale” artificial intelligence data centre near Ile des Chenes.

Christie Little lives on Arnold Road, right across from the proposed site of an AI data centre that will be built on 141-hectares (350-acres) of farmland that was bought by Las Vegas-based Jet.AI and Vancouver’s Consensus Core.

“I had to do something. Like, I can’t sit back and watch this unfold,” she said, noting that she thinks the petition will not influence council’s decision on approving the build, but she wants to get the word out and people talking.

“Know about what’s going on because we can, as a community, come together and make a difference if we have enough people to support it. And I feel like the only way to do that is having those conversations now and having people start talking about it now. So, when it does come to council, we have the entire community saying, ‘No.’”

It is believed that the proposed build might be one of the largest AI data centres in the world according to one expert previously interviewed by The Carillon regarding the issue.

Jet.AI has labeled the land as a “Goldilocks site” for the AI data centre because of its proximity to natural gas pipelines, Manitoba Hydro transmission lines, and high-speed fiber routes.

Business Insider wrote an article stating Big Tech companies are increasing their spending on such centres in America, citing Amazon and Alphabet as planning to spend $200 billion and $185 billion, respectively, on AI infrastructure this year.

How much Jet.AI and Consensus Core will invest in this data centre is unknown.

While Little is not against AI data centres, she feels they should not be near communities.

She began her petition in February when she read about the centre on social media. She immediately began researching to find out what an AI data campus was and what the negatives and positives were.

“Well, to be fully honest, it’s all negatives. And there wasn’t one positive, because I even looked for positives.”

Little mentioned that some people are claiming the positive side of the build is that it will bring employment. But she said that is short-sighted as construction will create jobs, but once the centre is built it requires very few employees to run it as it is mostly self-sufficient.

The 24/7 centre will run off of six natural gas-powered turbines and will require 500 gigawatts of power. Consensus Core stated on its website that the centre will be using a closed-loop cooling system “meaning there would be zero net water usage from operations.” The problem with such a system is that it needs high amounts of electricity to operate.

“They’re going to be using enough power to generate an entire city,” said Little. “Ile des Chenes consistently loses power. They’re having issues with power as it is right now, never mind putting something like this on this piece of land.”

It is the massive power requirements of the AI data centre and the noise pollution that will result from it that concerns Little the most.

“It’s quite shocking. And because of this low hum that’s always happening, it’s vibrations. So, the low hum causes vibrations in nearby houses,” she said, noting the noise will also affect the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre which is also across the street.

According to an article in Science Direct, data centers generate significant noise pollution, primarily from diesel generators and HVAC systems, with internal noise levels reaching up to 96 decibels, well above the 85 decibel threshold considered harmful to hearing.

The real estate agent is also concerned about the effect on property values should the centre be built as “nobody will want to live by a giant data center.” If the centre is approved by council, Little plans to move.

“I’ve been here 20 years. We had no intentions (of moving). We’ve raised our kids here…But if this happens, I’m not (staying). I don’t know the health risks other than what’s been stated online with the low vibrations and the humming and the light. So, mentally, physically, those health risks just aren’t worth it to me or my family.”

To date, Little’s online petition has garnered more than 4,000 signatures.

“It makes me really happy. I’m glad it’s getting out there,’ she said.

The RM is aware of the petition and a spokesperson provided a statement to The Carillon.

“The RM has questions similar to those raised by residents and is seeking further information directly from the company. We have also requested that the proponent undertake community engagement to ensure residents have the opportunity to ask questions and receive accurate information.”

So far Ritchot has not received an application for an AI data centre, nor has Manitoba Hydro.

According to a CBC article, there are about 300 data centres across Canada with nearly half being hyperscalers run by firms like Amazon, Google and Microsoft. There are no AI data centres in Manitoba.

Going forward, Little plans on setting up a signing station at the TC Energy Centre where people can come and show their support by signing the petition.

“There are so many data centers that have gone up, and there are so many communities that are standing up against it, and communities that have been very successful in standing up against it, so it’s definitely not something that people can say, you know, there’s nothing you can do about it. There is something you can do about it.”

To sign Little’s Change.org petition visit change.org/p/stop-the-ai-data-campus-near-ile-des-chênes.