PETITION TO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED AI DATA CENTRE NEAR ROBB, ALBERTA

PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. PROTECT OUR FUTURE.

To: The Government of Alberta, Alberta Utilities Commission, Yellowhead County Council, and All Relevant Regulatory Authorities

We, the undersigned residents, landowners, taxpayers, and concerned citizens of Robb, Hinton, Edson, Yellowhead County, and surrounding communities, formally oppose the proposed development of a large-scale AI data centre near Robb, Alberta.

We recognize the importance of economic development. However, development must never come at the expense of the health, safety, environment, quality of life, or long-term well-being of the communities affected.

 

OUR CONCERNS

1. Environmental Impacts

Large-scale AI data centres can require significant amounts of electricity, cooling resources, and supporting infrastructure.

We demand independent environmental assessments addressing potential impacts on air quality, water resources, wildlife, surrounding ecosystems, and greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Noise Pollution and Quality of Life

Industrial facilities, turbines, generators, and cooling equipment may produce continuous noise.

Residents deserve to enjoy their homes and properties without unreasonable industrial disturbances, particularly during nighttime hours.

3. Highway 47 and Public Safety

Highway 47 already accommodates industrial traffic and local residents.

Additional heavy equipment, construction vehicles, and operational traffic raise legitimate concerns regarding road deterioration, traffic safety, emergency access, and infrastructure costs.

4. Property Values and Rural Living

Residents have invested their lives, homes, and livelihoods in this region.

Industrial development should not compromise property enjoyment, rural character, or property values without proper consideration and accountability.

5. Electricity, Water, and Infrastructure Demands

We demand transparency regarding the project’s anticipated electricity consumption, water requirements, cooling systems, and infrastructure needs.

Local residents and taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize private industrial development.

6. Lack of Meaningful Community Consultation

Public consultation must be more than a procedural requirement.

Residents deserve clear, complete, and independently verified information before decisions are made.

Community concerns must be genuinely considered, not simply acknowledged and dismissed.

7. Digital Surveillance, Privacy, and the Threat of a Digital Prison

We are deeply concerned about the potential for large-scale AI infrastructure to support mass surveillance, centralized digital control, and the erosion of privacy and individual freedoms.

As AI becomes more integrated into government systems, financial institutions, digital identification, and everyday life, Canadians deserve safeguards against tracking, monitoring, and misuse.

We oppose any use of infrastructure that could enable excessive surveillance, restricted financial independence, or government overreach.

Canadians deserve innovation without the threat of living in a digital prison.

We demand transparency about this facility’s intended uses, data governance, ownership, security, and safeguards against misuse.

 

WE DEMAND:

1. That all approvals for the proposed AI data centre be withheld and the project not proceed.

2. Full disclosure of the project’s environmental, health, infrastructure, and economic impacts.

3. Independent assessments of noise, air emissions, water consumption, wildlife impacts, and cumulative industrial effects.

4. A comprehensive Highway 47 traffic and safety assessment, including responsibility for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance.

5. Complete transparency regarding electricity generation, fuel consumption, emissions, water usage, and any potential public financial obligations.

6. Meaningful public consultation that gives affected residents a genuine opportunity to influence the outcome.

7. Protection of surrounding communities, private property, public infrastructure, and the natural environment.

8. Full disclosure of the facility’s intended data uses, governance, ownership, privacy protections, security practices, and measures preventing surveillance or misuse.

 

OUR POSITION IS CLEAR

Economic development should benefit communities, not come at their expense.

The people who live, work, raise families, and own property in this region deserve a meaningful voice in decisions that may permanently affect their future.

We refuse to accept unnecessary environmental risks, industrial disturbances, infrastructure burdens, reduced quality of life, or threats to privacy and fundamental freedoms simply to accommodate a private development.

We call upon the Government of Alberta, Yellowhead County, and all relevant regulatory authorities to reject the proposed AI data centre near Robb, Alberta.