Murray Wood: Arrest in 2001 Saskatoon assault case should make perpetrators worried
A 52-year-old man has been charged in connection with a 2001 sexual assault allegation in Saskatoon. Murray Wood says he...
The Rural Municipality of Sherwood is aiming to give residents a clearer picture of how the proposed Bell AI data centre will be designed, while addressing concerns around issues like water use, drainage and noise.
The RM has posted the executive summary of a proposed development agreement for the data centre project southeast of Regina on its website, confirming a connection to Regina’s water supply.
Read more:
- ‘Lack of transparency’ on data centre development: RM of Sherwood resident
- Water, power, noise: Experts weigh in on Sask. data centre concerns
- LISTEN: Bell Business Market president discusses new Sask. AI data centre
“The objective of this letter is to transparently outline the comprehensive design strategies governing the proposed Sherwood Data Centre,” the report read.
The RM explained that at its Feb. 23 meeting, councillors agreed to provide notice by mail to affected landowners 14 days before discussions of a development agreement. That review is slated for April 20, though the formal agenda for the meeting has not yet been posted.
The summary, signed by Doug Randell of Fusion Consulting Ltd., addresses various concerns that have been raised around the data centre, including issues around noise, water, wastewater, drainage, roads, and even light pollution.
The site plan for Bell’s AI data centre project. (RM of Sherwood)
The report confirmed the centre will connect to the City of Regina’s water supply, but noted that water is not required for the proposed facility’s cooling system. The data centre is expected to use a closed-loop cooling system, the report noted.
“Once the internal closed-loop pipework undergoes a one-time fill during commissioning, the system remains entirely sealed,” the report explained.
“Consequently, the facility’s municipal water connection is sized exclusively to support standard domestic use and essential fire protection requirements.
“This innovative approach results in a highly sustainable operational water footprint that will not strain the municipality’s water supply or distribution resources.”
While some landowners have raised concerns about the noise that could come from the completed data centre, the report said a comprehensive acoustic strategy will ensure that the data centre complies with the RM’s noise bylaws. Noise-generating equipment will be located away from property lines, the report noted, and cooling equipment will be “low-noise.”
“Proactive acoustic assessments, conducted by qualified professionals, will ensure that sound levels at the property boundary remain consistent with existing ambient conditions,” the report read.
The report also promised a “zero-impact” stormwater strategy for the data centre, using retention ponds while controlling runoff to match current conditions in order to protect neighbours like the George Gordon First Nation and the Wascana Country Club.
Other details of the centre outlined by the RM included a self-contained lagoon system to manage wastewater, a berm along the length of the property’s eastern boundary, paving Park Street between Wascana Parkway and the southern end of the property and a glare-control strategy to minimize light pollution and preserve the “dark sky” over the area.
Community benefits highlighted
Several paragraphs of the letter were dedicated to the benefits that have been cited by the project’s developers.
“The Sherwood Data Centre will help position the RM of Sherwood as a strategic location for advanced digital infrastructure and economic diversification,” the report stated.
“It is a low-impact, high-value form of development that aligns with long-term regional growth objectives.”
In addition to the more than 800 construction jobs and around 80 permanent positions that are projected to come with the project, the report said the province will benefit financially by collecting sales tax on operations, maintenance, replacement equipment and AI computing infrastructure.
“Given the scale of the proposed campus, this includes the periodic replacement of AI chips and servers representing many billions of dollars in equipment over time,” the report read.
According to the report, the finalized development agreement will solidify responsibility for road upgrades and servicing requirements. The proposal would then go through the process of development and building permit applications.
