Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project

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Attachment Opposed to AI data Center

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Sturgon County Resident
  • Reference number: 80
  • Submitted: 2026-07-05 - 1:09 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am writing as a resident of Sturgeon County to express my strong opposition to the proposed AI data centre development. Sturgeon County is more than a place to build industry, it is a community rooted in agriculture, natural landscapes, wildlife, and the rural lifestyle that so many of us have intentionally chosen. While I understand that technological innovation has an important role in our economy, I do not believe this project provides benefits that outweigh the long term costs to our community. My primary concern is the immense demand that AI data centres place on electricity and infrastructure. These facilities are among the most energy intensive buildings in the world, often requiring dedicated substations, transmission upgrades, and significant public infrastructure investment. Residents deserve transparency regarding who will ultimately bear these costs and assurance that existing ratepayers and taxpayers will not subsidize private development. Water usage is another significant concern. Although cooling technologies vary, many modern data centres consume substantial amounts of water. Alberta has experienced increasing drought conditions, and our agricultural community depends on reliable access to water. Before approving a project of this scale, there should be clear evidence that it will not negatively affect local water resources, groundwater, or future water security. Equally concerning is the permanent loss of agricultural land. Productive farmland is one of Alberta's most valuable resources and, once developed, cannot realistically be restored to its original agricultural use. Every acre converted to industrial development reduces our ability to produce food locally ...

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Attachment Absolutely not

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Daniel Jones
  • Reference number: 79
  • Submitted: 2026-06-26 - 11:52 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am writing my comments to appose this rediculous approval for a data center in my backyard.  I moved here 15 years ago from the city to escape the noise and traffic of the cities.  We pride ourselves on giving nature a safe place on our land, by setting up many safe areas to nest for birds ect.  By allowing this venter you will destroy the ecosystem in some fashion, wether it be our water supply or noise pollution that scares wildlife away.  Whoever approved this without addressing us, the county tax payers, should be fired.  This is not a small project with no impact.  We will pay for this for decades to come in our county.  It offers no jobs after construction, a strain on power and water in the area, no revenue for the area - just rich investors who DO NOT LIVE HERE.  Stop investing in people who destroy our beautiful province for no benefeit to us - Alberta citizens.

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Attachment NO to Beacon Heartland AI Data Center

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: SJ MacLeod
  • Reference number: 78
  • Submitted: 2026-06-20 - 12:41 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • The other comments have sufficiently provided all of my feelings on this data center. I am dead set against this monstrosity being dumped in our district and am extremely concerned about it's impact. Why were we not informed properly? This should be something we all can vote for or against when it will have such a high impact on our surroundings and lives. It will impact far more than the immediate 2 kms surrounding it and I find that kind of tiny assessment ridiculous and insulting in comparison to such a huge project. I see the Alberta government is, once again, showing how little it cares for the citizens who employ them. 

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Attachment No Data Centres

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Wendy Molnar
  • Reference number: 77
  • Submitted: 2026-06-14 - 4:07 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am sharing previous correspondence which mirrors my own experience (I also live 7 km from proposed site) and which reflects my own views in opposing this project and objecting to the laughably small area used to determine who should be advised of this proposed project.  Here is the previous submission which I 100% support: "I am writing as a resident of the Sturgeon County area to formally object to the Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project as currently proposed a 920-megawatt natural gas power generation facility and AI data center complex located approximately 7 km east of Gibbons, Alberta, intended to operate continuously for 25 years. I was not consulted during this process. The proponent suggested they notified only residents within 2 km of the project boundary, which is false because I know residents within that boundary and they where not notified. I live within 7 minutes of this site and was given no opportunity to participate in the open house held November 18, 2025, because I was never informed it was happening. This is a fundamental failure of the public consultation process.   I request that the Commission determine whether AUC Rule 007 consultation requirements were met for residents beyond the 2 km notification radius, given the scale and 25-year duration of this facility. The Louisiana data showed infrasound from wind turbines detectable up to 15 km. This facility will operate 200 large natural gas reciprocating engines continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 25 years. Peer-reviewed research published as recently as February 2026 confirms that low-frequency noise and infrasound from industrial engines can travel long distances, ...

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Attachment Bulldozing public good

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Self
  • Reference number: 76
  • Submitted: 2026-06-11 - 11:20 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • The proposal to build this AI data center is flawed in multiple ways, mainly in this governments insistence on pushing through a obvious resource black hole for no discernible good to public. This creates little to no jobs, sucks a VAST amount of finite resources, and the environmental impacts have not and will not be assessed. Any other project of this magnitude would have SEVERAL large hoops to jump through, and yet these detrimental noise factories are being pushed through with no assessment  no promises or standards to upkeep the environment.  Why is the greater public/environment going to be paying the price for an OBVIOUS long term issue?? What kick backs are being promised to the people who will not have to deal with the consequences of their choices, leaving everyone in gibbons and fort saskatchewan to suffer?  What of the long term effects? Ban AI centre's. 

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Attachment Opposition of data centre 5kms from my house

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Sturgeon county resident
  • Reference number: 75
  • Submitted: 2026-06-10 - 11:32 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am writing to inform you that I oppose the Beacon Heartland AI data centre that's proposed east of Gibbons AB.  This facility will be heard for miles. The noise from the centre will be a detriment to all living things, people and animals. The sounds will penetrate our walls and interrupt our lives... the night skies will be tainted with the glow from the centre.  No more stars to see, just the glow from the continuously operating centre. They will need lots of electricity...so they will have their own power plant, that will be operating 24/7.    More noise coming our way.  And it will never cease.   The amount of water needed to operate this centre exceeds the amount of water we have in this community. Tapping into the Sturgeon River will cause problems with wildlife. What happens when that river is nothing more than a trickle?  I dont want to wake up one day and not have running water. To know that the centre may cause that much destruction is mind blowing to me. We do not need a data centre to live.  And I do not want to live by said data centre.  This is a waste of our resources,  a destruction of land and waters.  There is no way, our area can sustain a building of this magnitude for the projected 25years... How will this centre improve the surroundings? It wont. There is no benefit to having this data centre. No one wants to live this close to a data centre, regardless of the monetary impact it will have for the County.  Sometimes you have to put life (human and animal) before the profit. I was not consulted for this project.  Nor were my neighbours.  I am opposed to the Beacon AI centre east of ...

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Attachment Resident of Sturgeon County

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Toni Stacey
  • Reference number: 74
  • Submitted: 2026-06-06 - 6:16 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I oppose the proposed AI data centre in Sturgeon County because of the significant demands it could place on local infrastructure, utilities, and natural resources.   Large data centres require enormous amounts of electricity and water to operate. Before this project moves forward, residents deserve clear answers about how these resources will be supplied, what the environmental impacts will be, and whether local taxpayers could ultimately bear any of the costs for infrastructure upgrades.   I am also concerned about the long-term effects on agricultural land, wildlife habitat, and the rural character of our community. While economic development is important, it should not come at the expense of responsible land stewardship and the quality of life of current residents.   The benefits of the project should be carefully weighed against its environmental footprint, increased industrialization, and potential strain on public services. I urge decision-makers to proceed cautiously, require full transparency, and ensure that local residents’ interests are protected before any approvals are granted.   Thank you for considering my concerns.

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Attachment We oppose this with all our hearts

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Small farmers
  • Reference number: 73
  • Submitted: 2026-06-05 - 9:54 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • First of all there has been little information provided to the people of the community. This is a large scale project that will affect the entire county. Not a select few homes .  Protect our land, protect our homes, our children, our livestock, protect the crops we grow, the food we make and families   If we don’t stand up now there will be long term affects that our children and the generations to come will have to suffer.   We Support grassroots initiatives, federal Petition e-7427,    Proposed hyperscale AI data centres in Alberta, including the Wonder Valley and Synapse Olds projects, would consume massive amounts of electricity and water, increasing pressure on power grids, freshwater supplies, and public infrastructure during drought, wildfire risk, and climate ...

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Attachment One day, everyone will have always been against this

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Desmond McClure
  • Reference number: 72
  • Submitted: 2026-05-30 - 10:41 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • In a time when all of the news surrounding AI and their data centres is only negative, this is a remarkably poor decision. AI Data Centres: Strain our power grid Are an enviromental strain on water, air quality, local and migratory wildlife Produce disruptive noise pollution to the local area Are counterproductive to sustainability efforts Eliminate jobs as AI is forcibly spread throughout the worlds workforce, replacing workers to improve profits Outside of short-term job creation, have little to no benefits to the citizens living nearby, In the words of Marcus Tullius Cicero, "Cui bono?" - To whom is this a benefit, exactly?

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Attachment The Total Impact

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Heather Richardson
  • Reference number: 71
  • Submitted: 2026-05-28 - 7:36 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am very concerned about this proposed data centre.  First of all I have family and friends in Sturgeon County and in Gibbons. So this AI data centre will have a direct impact on them. Sturgeon is a strong farming community that has faced droughts in the past. With how much fresh water AI data centres use, I am concerned that drought conditions will become worse and more frequent, leading to failure of crops and also little water, maybe even water rationing, for the people in the community. "Large data centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day, equivalent to the water use of a town populated by 10,000 to 50,000 people." (https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption); with all this water consumption I'm afraid people in the community will have little to no water to consume. I've seen videos of people in the USA who live near data centres and their water pressure diminishes to a trickle and their water is dirty.  AI data centres use such a large amount of electricity; during heat waves, when everyone is using their air conditioners, we have put Alberta's electricity grid to its limit and created rolling blackouts. Will this AI data centre create constant blackouts for everyone living in the vicinity of this AI data centre? How can we even support this with our current power grid? Other issues with AI data centres is they pump out heat like crazy and raise the overall temperature of the environment around it. This will further encourage drought conditions and make living conditions for everyone around hotter. They are also excessively noisy, so how does that help the farmers with animals? I'm sure the animals will become ...

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Attachment No Beacon AI Center

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Resident of Sturgeon County
  • Reference number: 70
  • Submitted: 2026-05-26 - 11:33 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I have resided in Gibbons for 24 years. We moved here from Edmonton because it was a quiet, safe community for us to live in and to raise our child. My daughter moved back here with her family for the same reason. A safer place for her kids to grow up without the worry of city chaos. I understand the need for development and growth but the short term gain for a project like this with the majority of the profits going directly to the investors who don't even live here is not worth the damage it will cause. The traffic in these communities has already increased substantially in the time I've lived here. I can't imagine how much worse it will get if this is allowed to be built. It will be a huge drain of energy and water resources as well as causing destruction of our natural areas. No one knows what the long term health effects will be for those who live nearby either.  I don't want this built in, or near, our communities. 

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Attachment This is not fair.

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Gibbons Resident
  • Reference number: 69
  • Submitted: 2026-05-26 - 12:03 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • This is not fair. Who did you consult in the town to go through with this? This is our livelihoods you are jeopardizing by building this, by destroying our ecosystems and building a site to help power AI? It can't even think. AI is not our future. Our future is being destroyed by people who think it is. Obviously you understand the ramifications of building this, which is exactly why you allocate it to land that has nothing to do with whoever is in charge. We are expendable to you, aren't we?

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Attachment No to the Data Centre

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Cheyenne Duperron
  • Reference number: 68
  • Submitted: 2026-05-24 - 12:05 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • To whom this would be read to:  please do not put an AI data centre near our communities! Firstly the environmental impact that we will face with the lack of water; whether or not you are doing a loop cooling system or taking from our water that fills our wells; our town water supplies, and feeds our crops from the fields. We are primarily a farm focused area (as is a majority of Alberta) and our lands need the demand for water already. Second: your are only creating a small proportion of jobs for a short amount of time creating this monstrosity and with the surrounding population you will not be contributing to a more stable work force for a higher amount of employees; it will be minimal and then people will be out of a job.  lastly the effect on the people in the surrounding areas and communities: it does not matter where you will put this data centre. You will be effecting all of us with the beacons, the heat that is produced by this centre, and the noise to close up communities. Just like how the windmills were a problem in southern Ontario with the effects it had on people near by; this will have an effect on the people all around the area.  please rethink where you will be putting this data centre. 

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Attachment Not in support

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Pamela Stuart
  • Reference number: 64
  • Submitted: 2026-05-22 - 3:33 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • As a Sturgeon Country resident, I do not support the establishment of the new Beacon AI Data Center. There are far too many threats to the environment and surrounding habitants. The speed at which this project was pushed through combined with the absolute minimal community/resident consultation is very worrisome as the project lacks transparency. This is not what our community needs or wants, and it should not be pushed through simply because someone in an office that does not reside on the general vicinity wants it. There is simply not appropriate oversight for potential consequences, and it is not worth the risks to the residents of Sturgeon County who would be passive stakeholders in this endeavor nor is it worth the risk to their land.  The Beacon AI project has the potential to impact resident enjoyment of property and risks contaminating water and air sources. Furthermore, the potential noise polution is a significant risk to wildlife in the area.  As others have mentioned, May 21, 2026, is the first time I have heard of the project, which is simply unacceptable. 

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Attachment Opposition to a Data Centre

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Laney Treleaven
  • Reference number: 61
  • Submitted: 2026-05-22 - 1:52 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • As a person who has been a resident of Sturgeon County for a majority of my life, in addition to now being the parent of children I had intended to raise here, the idea of a data centre being built is abhorrent. There is no way to fully know and understand the long term side effects this can cause, or how serious it could be, especially for young children whose bodies are still growing and developing. The county trying to move forward with this project without any discussion or awareness from residents is unacceptable. 

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Attachment Concerns with Beacon ai data centre

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Sturgeon county resident
  • Reference number: 60
  • Submitted: 2026-05-22 - 12:13 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I oppose  Beacon Ai data centre  in my neighbourhood.  We have not been informed of this decision and the impacts will affect us for years to come. I am writing as a concerned Sturgeon County landowner regarding the proposed Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project and the apparent support already being extended toward this development. After reviewing the Initial Project Description submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, I believe many residents would be alarmed to learn the true scale of what is being proposed. This is not simply a “data centre.” The proposal includes: • A 920 MW natural gas power generation facility • 200 industrial natural gas engines operating continuously • A 317-acre industrial campus • Four large-scale AI data halls • New transmission infrastructure and substations • Massive energy consumption and significant municipal water usage • Continuous industrial operations within close proximity to rural residents and agricultural lands The project documents themselves state that only approximately 18 landowners within a 2 km radius were directly engaged during consultation. Many residents remain unaware of the scale and long-term implications of this development. I am deeply concerned that Sturgeon County appears to be moving toward support of this project before broader public awareness and meaningful consultation have occurred. This project raises serious concerns regarding: • Long-term strain on electrical infrastructure and utilities • Water allocation and long-term sustainability • Industrial expansion into ...

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Attachment Datacenters are eyesores

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Jeroen Storms
  • Reference number: 58
  • Submitted: 2026-05-22 - 8:44 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Datacenters are useless eyesores. Not only do they not provide any revenue, they only provide a handful of  jobs most of which will be remote and require higher education, none of which help the communities they are built in. They also require massive amounts of power and cooling both of which are not readily available (Edmonton still has rolling blackouts....) Then there is the extra noise for the costant cooling & light pollution because for some reason those buildings need to be brighter than the sun. I am completely opposed to any datacenter being built in any rural area, there are plenty empty buildings in the big cities that can be converted for this. 

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Attachment Opposed to the datacenter

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Liesbeth Andries
  • Reference number: 57
  • Submitted: 2026-05-22 - 8:28 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I do not agree with having the proposed datacenter so close to where we live in Sturgeon County. It only brings in minimal jobs once operational but will have a massive environmental impact that the communities will pay for. The water usage that the facility would require is going to be detrimental to sturgeon county, the farming community and residents living all around. And we were not even properly notified about this development.  I do not see how this will enrich our communities in the long term future. We want to think of the next generations living here not the short term financial impact that brings jobs for a very limited period of time. 

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Attachment Lack of consultation alarming

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Luke R
  • Reference number: 56
  • Submitted: 2026-05-22 - 12:38 AM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • A development of this scale, with potential impacts on land use, power demand, water use, noise, traffic, emergency response capacity, environmental conditions, and nearby residents, appears to be proceeding without meaningful consultation with the people who may be affected. A facility of this nature is not a minor or routine development. AI data centres can place significant demand on municipal and regional infrastructure, including electrical systems, water resources, road networks, and emergency services. They may also create ongoing operational impacts such as noise from cooling systems, backup generation, lighting, truck movement, and changes to the surrounding rural or residential character of the area. Residents deserve clear information before decisions are made and a meaningful way to participate in consultation.  I'm alarmed that this is proceeding without having even been notified. 

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Attachment Request for Reconsideration and Further Review – Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Connie Shields
  • Reference number: 55
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 11:45 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am a nearby landowner in Sturgeon County and am submitting my objection to the March 9, 2026 decision that no further federal impact assessment is required for the Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project. I am concerned that the long-term cumulative impacts of this project have not been adequately assessed before reaching an early decision. Large-scale AI data centres can place significant demands on electrical infrastructure, water resources, rural land use, and surrounding communities. My concerns include: • Increased strain on Alberta’s power grid and infrastructure • Potential impacts on regional water resources • Industrial expansion into agricultural and rural areas • Noise, lighting, traffic, and quality-of-life impacts • Lack of transparency regarding future expansion plans • Insufficient consultation with nearby residents and landowners While existing regulatory frameworks are referenced in the decision, I do not believe this alone replaces the need for a more transparent and comprehensive review process for a project of this scale. I respectfully request reconsideration of the early decision and additional opportunities for public consultation and cumulative-impact review before the project proceeds further.  

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Attachment I disapprove of this project going forward as there has been no consultation with the community members who live in Sturgeon county

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Conrad Mos
  • Reference number: 54
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 11:37 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Today is May 21, 2026 and this day was the 1st time that I heard about the data centre project being proposed east of Gibbons.  I am extremely against having a project of this size being built in Sturgeon county without rigerous public consultation.  I understand "why " this location has been chosen- as the land was vacated by local farmers when the heartland project was initiated years ago and now there is no one living in the immediate area anymore.  This fact eliminates any chance that local residents living near this environmental disaster would complain.  The amount of land wasted - water from the North Saskatchewan River wasted and the noise and air pollution produced by the generators require to operate this plant will be a ecological disaster for this area for the next 25 years which I hear is the lifetime for the project.   This centre was initially proposed for the community of Olds,Alberta and the community successfully pushed back.   Having not heard about the project until now - it appears that this location is being secretly approved and moved into our community to eliminate any pushback from local resident that it impacts.  I am  strongly against bringing this project to the farmland east of Gibbons and destroying the community where I have lived all my life.   

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Attachment Opposition and disappointment of lack of public engagement

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Sturgeon County Resident
  • Reference number: 52
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 11:26 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • As a Sturgeon County resident, I feel there has not been proper engagement with the community regarding this proposal or adequate advertisement of the project within the surrounding area. Being close to the industrial Heartland, we are used to large scale industrial projects within our community. For projects of this scale and significance, residents should have been much more clearly informed about open houses, information sessions, and opportunities to provide feedback. Many major developments make a significant effort to ensure nearby residents are aware of consultations and understand the potential impacts before decisions move forward. I am especially concerned about the proposed location being so close to a town with many families, children, and schools. While AI technology and data infrastructure are becoming increasingly important, placing large AI data centers a natural gas power plants near established and growing residential communities raises legitimate concerns. There are known and studied negative impacts related to air quality, noise and light pollution, water source depletion, and local economic consequences to residence in the form of sky high utilities, and declining property values. AI infrastructure on this scale is still relatively new, and we do not yet know the long-term health, environmental, or community impacts of having these types of facilities operating close to urban populations for decades to come. I want to be clear that I am not against development, technology, innovation, or AI. These industries are important and will continue to grow. However, location matters. Facilities of this scale and industrial nature are better suited to areas with sparse populations ...

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Attachment CANCEL THE PROJECT

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Sheldon Da Costa
  • Reference number: 51
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 11:26 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • The proposed AI data centre project located only 4.4 km from our homes raises serious concerns regarding environmental impact, infrastructure strain, public safety, quality of life, and the complete lack of meaningful community consultation. Residents were never properly informed of this development, and many only became aware of it after key discussions and planning stages were already underway. The manner in which this project has been fast-tracked gives the appearance that it is being quietly pushed through without adequate transparency, public engagement, or informed consent from the people who will be directly affected. A project of this magnitude has the potential to create significant noise pollution from cooling systems and backup generators, increased heavy truck traffic and road degradation, rising pressure on local power and water infrastructure, light pollution, impacts on property values, environmental risks, and long-term industrialization of surrounding rural and residential areas. Large-scale AI data centres also consume enormous amounts of electricity and water while providing limited long-term local employment relative to their footprint and impact. The community deserves a full and transparent presentation of the project, including environmental studies, infrastructure impact assessments, emergency response considerations, and long-term development plans before any approvals move forward. This process must be paused immediately and brought back to the residents for proper public review, discussion, and community approval rather than being rushed through behind closed doors.

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Attachment Objection To Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Julie Minchau
  • Reference number: 50
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 11:14 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am a resident of the Sturgeon County area with a residence approximately 5 km from the Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project currently proposed as a 920-megawatt natural gas power generation facility and AI data center complex which would be located approximately 7 km east of Gibbons.  I feel residents in close proximity to the project were not given sufficient notification of the scope and nature of the project.  Indeed the detailed information I have received was from other residents.  I have many concerns for the health impact, impact to our natural resources in the area as well as property values.  I am requesting for the project to be reconsidered.

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Attachment Opposed to the development

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Erin Pysmenny
  • Reference number: 49
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 11:04 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I have concerns about the construction of the data centre. Despite the heavy industrial zoning in the area, a project of this size for data creation thats been proven to be quite harmful to the environment is not something I want built. Id like more studies on the effects of these centre's on the surrounding area and more development to focus on renewable energy sources and or environmental strength. 

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Attachment Please dont build this

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Lindsey Mos
  • Reference number: 48
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 10:58 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • We as a community in Gibbons, Bon Accord, Sturgeon County, Fort Saskatchewan and surrounding areas were not properly informed about this beacon AI centre being built near our homes. We should have had letters sent in the mail and we should have had a fair opportunity for everyone who would be concerned about this to voice those concerns. I have not heard a single person say that they want this to happen. Nobody wants AI to further hurt our ecosystems, our family farms and our health. It is sad to see what our world is coming to despite what the people actually want or not. Please reconsider giving the communities this affects proper warning and the ability to decide whether this should go ahead or not.

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Attachment Data Centres are extremely harmful.

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Mya McIntosh
  • Reference number: 47
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 10:43 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • We do not need a data centre. Data centres are harmful and unnecessary for what they are most likely going to be used for, A.I. A.I. itself is harming the environment and the skills needed to think. Teenagers aren't learning in school because they're using A.I. to do everything for them. Data centres also cause drinking water to be contaminated and literally undrinkable. Find any news article talking about drinking water and data centres and you will see exactly what I am saying. These data centres also give off heat, and we're already at far too high levels of heat. Imagine if there's +10 more degrees added on to it. DO NOT BUILD THIS DATA CENTRE, I quite literally beg you.

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Attachment We do not want this

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Vanessa Zurfluh Noseworthy
  • Reference number: 46
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 10:39 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • I am writing as a resident of the Sturgeon County area to formally object to the Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project as currently proposed a 920-megawatt natural gas power generation facility and AI data center complex located approximately 7 km east of Gibbons, Alberta, intended to operate continuously for 25 years. I was not consulted during this process. The proponent suggested they notified only residents within 2 km of the project boundary, which is false because I know residents within that boundary and they where not notified. I live within 7 minutes of this site and was given no opportunity to participate in the open house held November 18, 2025, because I was never informed it was happening. This is a fundamental failure of the public consultation process.   I request that the Commission determine whether AUC Rule 007 consultation requirements were met for residents beyond the 2 km notification radius, given the scale and 25-year duration of this facility. The Louisiana data showed infrasound from wind turbines detectable up to 15 km. This facility will operate 200 large natural gas reciprocating engines continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 25 years. Peer-reviewed research published as recently as February 2026 confirms that low-frequency noise and infrasound from industrial engines can travel long distances, penetrate buildings, and cause documented health effects including cardiovascular stress, sleep disruption, hypertension, headaches, and neurological impacts. AUC Rule 012 is the minimum noise standard this project must meet, but it is wholly inadequate for a facility of this scale. The rule measures only A-weighted decibels, a scale ...

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Attachment So many NIMBY

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Jay Mills
  • Reference number: 44
  • Submitted: 2026-05-21 - 10:18 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • All these people commenting about this in a negative manner are the classic NIMBY that saw some post online about how its bad and don't want to see any development whatsoever but then complain about high taxes. Not to mention most against this don't even live within the municipality.  I think this is a great project that will benefit the municipality and its residents

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Attachment Consultation Insufficient

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Angelia Wiles
  • Reference number: 40
  • Submitted: 2026-05-19 - 2:58 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Hello, I would like to say that although I am pleasantly surprised at the amount of Indigenous consultation that was conducted for this project I do have to say as someone who lives within a 2 mile radius of this project I wasn't consulted at all. The only clue that we had that something was going on in our area, was a vague letter from Sturgeon County asking if we would be interested in selling our property, that is all. No information about a project, or why we might be interested in selling our property. I only found out through a co-worker that lives in the area that this was even happening, and that wasn't unti May of 2026. The fact that great efforts were made to consult indigenous communities hundreds of kilometers away (Saddle Lake, Onion Lake, etc) but not people who are actually being impacted by this AI Data Center is plain ridiculous.  This Data Center is being added to a community that already has water drought issues (over the past almost 20 years we've lived here), as well as impact to farms and families living in this area. This is not an isolated area, this is a community with hundreds of families and businesses that will be impacted. Not only will this impact the people but wildlife in this area.  The negative impact outweighs the benefits, this will not add enough benefit to the community to even consider this area for this project. Unsure why this wasn't better communicated to the community, makes me think this was something the county was trying to push through without proper consulation or study, dollars outweighing the health and safety of the surrounding area. Thanks, Angelia Wiles Sturgeon County Resident

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Attachment Not worth the risk

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Home owner in Redwater
  • Reference number: 39
  • Submitted: 2026-05-18 - 1:07 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • The environmental impact alone should be enough to have this thrown out. These are not "data centers" they are mass surveillance centers. Let's be honest with our citizens now.. the amount of water that will be needed daily that is used to cool this facility.will be catastrophic to agriculture, farming communities and towns nearby. Whatever needs to be done to prolong or shut this down should be done. 

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Attachment Community involvement

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Tyler Cantwell
  • Reference number: 35
  • Submitted: 2026-02-25 - 2:40 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Participation notice: Public notice - Comments invited on the summary of the Initial Project Description and funding available
  • Hello,   I am strongly concerned that it appears only indigenous communities and the impacts to them are being considered in relation to the Beacon AI Heartland Project. Why are the communities of Sturgeon County, St. Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, etc. not being included in this Impact Assessment? I understand there is a difference of regulation, but there is also an ethical obligation to consult and engage with those whom may be impacted.   Neither IAAC or the proponent have done a sufficient job to notify and thus consult the public whom are likely to experience significant and adverse impacts from this project.   Assessment without the direct and meaningful contribution of the communities whom may experience some of the most direct impacts is not sufficient to determine impacts.   Already, in reviewing the proponent's documents, they state "Water wells in the surrounding area are used primarily for domestic and agricultural purposes. Groundwater and surface-water licences within 5 km of the Project are limited and are associated with small-scale domestic, agricultural, industrial, or municipal uses. The Project is not expected to interact with regional aquifers or affect existing groundwater users" and yet, they make no direct explanation or justification for this statement which stands in stark contrast to their provincially permitted 1,500,000 litres of daily water consumption. It is either negligent or deceitful to conclude there will be no impact to local water users.   It is also alarming that infrasound is not mentioned once within the proponent's documents. Infrasound is known to be ...

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Attachment Failing already

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Tyler Cantwell
  • Reference number: 34
  • Submitted: 2026-02-25 - 12:14 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • The proponent has failed to adequetly notify potentially impacted communities and request invite for comment and participation, both of which deadlines have now passed. Many in the local community were not even aware of this project until recently through social media. Adequete consultaiton can NOT be conducted if the proponent is not making it aware to the potentially impacted communities they can participate in the impact assessment as well as how to do so. IAAC will be incapable of making any reasonable assessment, if communities are not properly involved. The Key issues document highlights Accidents and Malfunctions as well as Indigenous Concsultation and Engagement only. There is no mention of key issues related to non-indigenous community Consultaiton and Enagagement, reflective of the proponents failture to involve potetially impacted communities. Reflected in this is the absence of the below significant and anticipated impacts: There are significant concerns regarding energy usage with impacts both to grid demand as well as potential socio-economic impacts through increases in demand from the project resulting in increased rates for local community energy users. There are significant concerns on the cooling demands of the project and its demand on the local water supply, especially in the context of being located in a farming communnity which has experienced drought conditions in recent years. How will demand be met? In times of drought, how will priority be determined? Will farmers get priority over this project? There are significant concerns regarding pollution to the local air and water, and thus community health, through excessive power generation (if additional, local ...

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Attachment Beacon AI Data Centre Proposal Concerns

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: N/A
  • Reference number: 25
  • Submitted: 2026-01-29 - 1:54 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  •     ? I am concerned that I did not see anything in the project documentation (Initial Project Description Summary) about whether the utilization or recovery of waste heat was or is being considered in this project. I am concerned about the potable water usage involved in this project. Water is a critical resource for community members and native ecosystems in the area (including flora and fauna). Table 4.4.1 (Initial Project Description Summary) attempts to addresses this issue with a response that because the proponent has an approved permit for 1,500,000 liters daily use of potable water, that the concern is addressed. I do not believe that addresses the concern just because air-cooled, closed-loop cooling was selected over water-based systems to reduce water use- that is still a significant amount of water being used and should not be downplayed. I am concerned about this projects impact on wildlife. The absence of comprehensive evidence for understanding total displacement effects on wildlife raises concern for species conservation. Within a biological context, displacement could mean attraction or avoidance. Some species have little information available through underdeveloped research regarding population dynamics or habitat use, making it difficult to predict how they will respond to new disturbances. Without a robust understanding of baseline behavior, movement patterns, and ecological requirements, even subtle shifts in ...

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Attachment Alberta Environment and Protected Areas - Provincial Authority Advice Record

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Environment and Protected Areas - Provincial Authority Advice Record
  • Reference number: 30
  • Submitted: 2026-01-27 - 5:49 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Participation notice: Public notice - Comments invited on the summary of the Initial Project Description and funding available
  • See the attached submission / Veuillez consulter la pièce jointe  
  • Attachment included
  • 1 Classification: Protected A Provincial Authority Advice Record Form #1: Authority and Summary of Issues Response requested by: January 26, 2026 Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project – Heartland Power CIAR No.: 90123 The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) encourages comments to be submitted via the Submit a Comment feature available on the project’s Canadian Impact Assessment Registry page (Reference 90123) https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/90123?culture=en-CA. Letters and forms can be uploaded using this feature. If you have any difficulties submitting this way, please contact IAAC using the information provided below for assistance. Ministry/Agency: Environment and Protected Areas Primary Contact Name: Karen Tomashavsky, Approvals Program Manager, Regulatory Programs Branch Email: karen.tomashavsky@gov.ab.ca Phone: 780-644-8095 Alternate Contact Name: Erika Akkerman, Environmental Assessment Coordinator, Regulatory Programs Branch Email: Erika.akkerman@gov.ab.ca Phone: 780-422-9727 Please complete this form. 1. Would your ministry/agency participate in the federal impact assessment process for this project? If so, provide the information of the main point of contact. No 2. Will your jurisdiction be undertaking a review and analysis of the project? Would your jurisdiction participate in a cooperative review of the project information? 2 Classification: Protected A No. The EA team has received, and is currently reviewing, a request for an environmental assessment determination. Previous similar projects have received a determination that an EIA report is not required. 3. Does your ministry/agency have any advice on ...
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Attachment CIAR, Information Request Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Nicole Corrado
  • Reference number: 26
  • Submitted: 2026-01-26 - 11:54 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Participation notice: Public notice - Comments invited on the summary of the Initial Project Description and funding available
  • I noticed a lot of wildlife live here.  ?????Please preserve the trees at this location. Please do not harm animals with this project. Please do not use animal testing for pollution and effluent monitoring. https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fp%2Fstop-testing-sewer-water-on-laboratory-fish&data=05%7C02%7CBeacon-Heartland%40iaac-aeic.gc.ca%7C5aa3c5caf8e94c4bcf3b08de5d602178%7C35d07687f4f24fbc8b3efa87a26b3b7b%7C0%7C0%7C639050864805799377%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=zK1qryLXAPEat5VQldtLwBBMvJdy3Q8JZsEcKStKMzA%3D&reserved=0   ?Please work with the Canadian Centre for the Alternatives to Animal Methods. https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uwindsor.ca%2Fccaam%2F&data=05%7C02%7CBeacon-Heartland%40iaac-aeic.gc.ca%7C5aa3c5caf8e94c4bcf3b08de5d602178%7C35d07687f4f24fbc8b3efa87a26b3b7b%7C0%7C0%7C639050864805843525%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=e%2BzcJwI8iJ%2FEEHAigE4fbnoIv1IV1a0tOOc9S4lO%2BSA%3D&reserved=0   Please only use non lethal ways to live with geese, beavers, and other wildlife. Develop a Living With Coyotes program with the animal welfare organization Coyote Watch Canada. ...

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Attachment Please do not build here

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Beaconsfield Animal Services
  • Reference number: 24
  • Submitted: 2026-01-26 - 11:53 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Participation notice: Public notice - Comments invited on the summary of the Initial Project Description and funding available
  • Please do not build a natural gas plant in nature to power AI!  I noticed a lot of wildlife live here.  ?????Please preserve the trees at this location. Please do not harm animals with this project. Please do not use animal testing for pollution and effluent monitoring. https://www.change.org/p/stop-testing-sewer-water-on-laboratory-fish ?Please work with the Canadian Centre for the Alternatives to Animal Methods. https://www.uwindsor.ca/ccaam/ Please only use non lethal ways to live with geese, beavers, and other wildlife. Develop a Living With Coyotes program with the animal welfare organization Coyote Watch Canada. www.coyotewatchcanada.com Please only use non lethal ways to manage wildlife. There are humane, non lethal ways to deal with beavers. Here's a great resource. https://thefurbearers.com/downloads/PDFs/Beaver%20Book%20-%202019-10-08%20The%20Fur-Bearers.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1fP2wOYQKbWREX0E5QzYBhZLf9VjwMov3p37Vh8ToW1-NeQvAoVATZhEg%0A%0A https://www.change.org/p/stop-banff-from-killing-animals-after-conflicts https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/humanely-scare-away-canada-geese https://www.canadageese.org/nlcontrol.html https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/humane-goose-control-pdf.pdf https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-canada-geese This company makes non lethal products. https://margosupplies.com/ca-en/ ? Conventional rodent control uses cruel methods. The companies use glue traps, and snap traps, which, like legholds, can cause injury. They also use rodenticide, which kills slowly and kills many non target ...

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Attachment Submission on the Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project Initial Project Description

  • Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project
  • Author: Kikino Metis Settlement
  • Reference number: 23
  • Submitted: 2026-01-26 - 11:23 PM
  • Project phase: Planning
  • Participation notice: Public notice - Comments invited on the summary of the Initial Project Description and funding available
  • Please find attached Kikino Metis Settlement's comments on the Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project Initial Project Description.
  • Attachment included
  • 1 Kikino Métis Settlement Comments on Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project IPD Submission for Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project Initial Project Description January 26, 2026 Introduction Kikino Métis Settlement, incorporated under Alberta legislation, is a settlement in northeastern Alberta, approximately 128 kilometers from Cold Lake. We have over 1100 members, holding constitutionally protected Indigenous rights under Section 35 of the 1982 Constitutional Act. Our name, ‘Kikino,’ comes from a Cree name meaning “Our home.” The proposed Project (Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project) is located within Métis Harvesting Areas D, an area designated for harvesting purposes under Alberta’s Métis Harvesting in Alberta Policy (2018).1 Kikino Métis Settlement is also located within Métis Harvesting Area D, and many of our members have historically, and continue today, to use the public and private lands in Harvesting Area D to exercise our constitutionally protected right to harvest for subsistence purposes. The significance of the harvestable areas found in Métis Harvesting Area D, moreover, have increased over time. Agricultural development, oil and gas, forestry, and other sources of anthropogenic disturbance and taking up of lands on and around the Settlement have forced members to travel greater distances to exercise our constitutionally protected Indigenous rights. 1 “Métis Harvesting in Alberta Policy [2018] - Open Government,” accessed January 20, 2026, https://open.alberta.ca/publications/metis-harvesting-in-alberta-policy-2018. 2 Kikino Métis Settlement Comments on Beacon AI Centers Heartland Project IPD Overview On January ...
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