Canadian county Westlock is expected to revisit its regulations

Canadian county Westlock is expected to revisit its regulations as deliberations are ongoing to allow crypto firms to build larger facilities in the region. This new amendment to its bylaw follows a rise in proposals for high-powered facilities.

According to the new amendments, the larger digital infrastructure projects will take up space and operate in the industrial zones in the county. The Data Processing Facilities Bylaw was reintroduced by the Westlock County administration at the regular council meeting on July 8. The new amendment is expected to allow digital firms to enter the region and build larger facilities in the Canadian county.

Canadian county revisits Data Processing Facilities Bylaw

The amendment to the bylaw, which was initially passed on April 12, 2022, was presented to the councilors by Julie McLean, the general manager for the planning and community services department at Westlock County. According to records, a data processing facility is a dedicated space that is used to house computer systems and components for the digital transactions required for processing data. It includes processing digital currency, non-fungible tokens, and blockchain transactions.

This new amendment is expected to have two divisions, which the data processing facilities can be categorized into based on the amount of electrical energy required. Any proposals for larger facilities that use one megawatt or more are categorized under Major Facilities, which are only allowed to operate out of the industrial land areas.

In comparison, facilities that use less than one megawatt, which are classified under Minor Facilities, can be housed anywhere, depending on the discretion of the development authority. However, the Canadian county’s law states that agricultural lands can be rezoned to become industrial land, provided there is enough need for it and people’s concerns are looked into.

“Agriculture land can be rezoned to industrial land, but it requires a public hearing process for the opportunity of adjacent land owners to voice concerns and for council to decide on the land use whereas a development permit application, like if it’s a discretionary use in the AG District, then the decision is just made by the Municipal Planning Commission,” McLean said.

This new development is coming after McLean reported a rise in the number of proposals for larger facilities that have been brought to the county through the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). While the exact number remains unknown, one facility has been given the greenlight from the AUC for their power generation component use, but “they don’t have jurisdiction over the actual data processing portion of the use”, a decision that falls on the municipality.

Noise pollution remains a major issue of data processing facilities

One of the biggest impacts of data processing facilities still remains the noise pollution that comes with their operations. They generate a low hum noise that is annoying to residents within the surrounding areas, as well as the increase in traffic and construction noise. In section 7.21.16, a new addition would enable the development authority to request a noise mitigation plan that may include the need for a noise monitoring program.

The Canadian county passed the first bylaw back in 2022 after an increase in proposals and applications for Bitcoin mining in the area. The move led to dozens of questions, concerns, and complaints from residents. County manager of planning and development Ted Traikovski told councilors at the time that his department was swamped with concerns and complaints over the Bitcoin mines.

The Canadian county became one of the first to tackle the influx of bitcoin mining alongside Sturgeon County. Councilors have now carried the motion to give the bylaw a first reading and for the administration to schedule a public hearing connected to the new amendment. The Canadian county has said the hearing is expected to take place on September 9 at 9:30 AM.

KEY Difference Wire: the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage