Proposed power-generation and data-centre facility in Lacombe County under review

The county added that the project is in the preliminary stages of the municipal approval process and will have to pass several stages before any development gets the green light. This includes a land use rezoning application and a discretionary development permit.

No approvals have been given yet, nor have any final decisions been made by Lacombe County council.

“The county’s role is to ensure every application receives a thorough, transparent, and evidence-based review,” said Tim Timmons, County Manager. “Council has not taken a position on this proposal. Public engagement, technical review, and consideration of applicable policies must all occur before any decision is made.”

As a result, the developer is required to host a public information meeting where residents can hear directly from them, ask questions, and provide their thoughts to the organization. Also to be addressed are questions regarding the project’s design, operations, technical studies, and business model.

This will be on Wednesday, September 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.at the Tees Community Hall.

Lacombe County also plan to hold their own public engagement opportunity, and even though a date hasn’t been set, they plan to host it in late 2026 or early 2027.

County council will also be required to hold a public hearing if they proceed with a redesignation bylaw.

Details regarding future engagement opportunities and hearing dates will be advertised through the county’s website, social media channels, and direct notification to affected parties.

“We understand residents want to know how a project like this will be reviewed and how they can participate in the process,” said Cajun Paradis, Director of Planning Services. “Administration’s role is to carefully evaluate the proposal against County policies and technical requirements while also ensuring Council receives input from the public through engagement opportunities, including a future Public Hearing. All of this information is considered as part of a transparent and evidence-based review process.”

Lacombe County added that data centres are not automatically approved, and each proposal is reviewed individually against the county’s Municipal Development Plan, Land Use Bylaw, and other applicable planning policies and regulations.

Public feedback is also an important component of council’s decision-making process.

The county said proposals require municipal approval in two stages: first, a redesignation of the facility area to the Heavy Industrial ‘I-HI’ District, and second, a future development permit application to authorize the proposed power generation and data processing centre uses.

Lacombe County has created a dedicated information webpage, which can be viewed at lacombecounty.com/datacentres.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Proposed power-generation and data-centre facility in Lacombe County under review

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