Mississauga city council has recently voted in favor of enacting a one-year moratorium on the development of data centers in the area. This decision comes as part of a broader initiative to thoroughly examine and evaluate the growing, yet contentious, data center industry.
The city announced that the council has greenlit a measure instructing officials to draft an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) that would temporarily prevent the approval of new digital infrastructure projects, including data centers, for a period of up to one year.
During the impending review, the city plans to scrutinize the necessity of potential updates to existing City policies and regulations, such as the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. It aims to evaluate the potential impacts of data centers on various aspects, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental considerations, noise pollution levels, as well as energy and water consumption.
This evaluation process will involve soliciting feedback from the public to gather insights that will be instrumental in shaping future policies and decision-making concerning digital infrastructure. The objective is to strike a balance between fostering economic growth, ensuring sustainability, and promoting community well-being.
The motion to initiate this pause on data center development was introduced by Mississauga Councillor Martin Reid during a council meeting. Reid expressed concerns during a visit to the proposed site of a large-scale data center near Tenth Line, Winston Churchill Boulevard, and Hwy. 401, in proximity to the Lisgar GO station. The site is situated amidst residential areas, a church, green spaces, and commercial establishments, raising concerns about potential impacts on the community.
Reid highlighted examples from U.S. cities where data centers led to excessive consumption of resources like water and electricity, emphasizing the need for thorough research and understanding before committing to such projects.