As artificial intelligence technology continues to advance, Ontario municipalities are grappling with the challenge of regulating the growing number of energy-intensive data centres in their communities.
Several municipalities in Ontario have recently taken steps to address this issue, with some implementing temporary moratoriums on data centres while others are amending their bylaws to accommodate these facilities on industrial lands.
Let’s take a closer look at the actions various Ontario municipalities have taken or are planning to take:
In a groundbreaking move, a city in Ontario considered a one-year freeze, known as an interim control bylaw, on data centre development. Despite initial support, the proposal was ultimately rejected by the council. City staff are currently conducting a thorough study on data centre planning to determine appropriate regulations, including considerations for energy consumption and noise levels.
A town in Ontario successfully passed a moratorium last month while a planning study is underway. This decision came in response to the announcement of plans for a significant AI facility by a developer in the Greater Toronto Area.
Another municipality directed staff to draft a moratorium specifically targeting data centres with high energy demands, with a vote scheduled for September.
An eastern Ontario town already included data centres as a permitted use in its industrial lands through a bylaw passed in February.
In efforts to regulate data centre development, several councils in Ontario have requested staff to review existing planning policies and to explore the possibility of an Ontario-wide framework for data centre regulation.
While some towns have opted against temporary moratoriums, they are actively studying data centres and considering amendments to existing policies to manage their impact on communities.
Keyphrase: Ontario data centre regulation
