เทคโนโลยี · AI infrastructureFirst Nations Demand Pause as Bell Plans Fourfold AI Campus Expansionเขียน 11 ตุลาคม 2569 เวลา 22:32 UTCรับชมบทถอดเสียง0:09Two First Nations demand Bell halt an AI campus that's already taking shape.0:14Construction is underway on the original site, and Bell proposes expanding its0:17planned capacity fourfold.0:19The nations want environmental evidence and consultation before development goes0:23further.0:24Will Bell and the governments address those requests before the campus grows?0:28Standing Buffalo First Nation is about 75 kilometers from the site, south of Regina0:32in Sherwood.0:33The nation describes the land as unceded traditional Dakota territory.0:37Carry the Kettle First Nation says limited regional water supplies and an underlying0:41aquifer need protection.0:43Standing Buffalo wants evidence about effects on land, water, air, and wildlife.0:48Its October 2 letter requested technical, environmental, and approval documents so0:52the nation could carry out its own independent assessment.0:55Standing Buffalo addressed that request to Bell President and Chief Executive Mirko0:59Bibbick.1:00The nation wants access to the information behind the project's design and approvals1:04so it can judge the consequences for itself.1:06Carry the Kettle says Bell and Saskatchewan moved ahead without notice, consent, or1:10consultation.1:11Its October 5 statement asks Bell and both governments to pause development until an1:15environmental assessment is complete and treaty-based consultation and accommodation1:19take place.1:20The provincial opposition New Democrats have also called for a pause.1:24First Nations leaders say they may go to court if Canada, Saskatchewan, and Bell1:28don't pause the project and meet with them.1:30Bell's original plan called for 300 megawatts.1:33The expansion adds up to 900 megawatts, bringing the proposed total to 1,2001:38megawatts or 1.2 gigawatts.1:41That's four times the original announced capacity at full build-out.1:44Bell announced the original project on March 16, 2026, and the expansion on1:49September 14th.1:50The enlarged plan came six months after the initial announcement.1:54Bell is describing future capacity.1:57The campus is still being built.1:59Saskatchewan's October 4th construction update said four building shells were taking2:03shape at the original 300 megawatt site.2:06That work was underway while the separate expansion proposal was still moving2:09through municipal review.2:11The expansion proposal allows up to nine additional buildings.2:14The enlarged project is also reportedly planned for as many as 15 buildings.2:19How those counts fit together is still unclear.2:21Four shells under construction don't settle the final campus count.2:24The planned buildings would spread across an area compared to eight average-sized2:28golf courses.2:29That comparison conveys scale.2:31The land proposal gives a more concrete measure of how far Bell wants the campus to2:35reach.2:35The original site covers approximately 160 acres of agricultural land.2:40Bell's conditional purchase arrangements cover another 895 acres beside it.2:45Together, that's approximately 1055 acres of proposed holdings, with the sale still2:50conditional.2:51The conditional sale agreement is under Farmland Security Board review.2:54Potential sellers include a former Reeve and the current deputy Reeve.2:58Their financial interest in the proposed sale carries no finding of wrongdoing.3:01The combined acreage also leaves the eventual developed footprint to be determined.3:05Bell says its sealed, closed-loop cooling system won't draw water from or discharge3:10water to the aquifer.3:11It says the coolant lasts more than a decade before replacement.3:14Saskatchewan describes a one-time technical fluid fill that doesn't need regular3:18refills.3:19Those assurances address water moving into and out of the cooling system.3:23The nations are also asking about construction, land disturbance, air, and wildlife3:28across a much larger campus.3:30Bell's cooling explanation alone can't resolve those broader requests.3:34The province says washrooms and kitchens would receive water through a water main3:38rather than wells.3:39It describes demand as comparable to an office of about 130 people.3:44That domestic supply is separate from the technical fluid circulating through the3:47cooling loop.3:48Saskatchewan promises to monitor groundwater against published baselines,3:52measurements used to track changes.3:54The province hasn't spelled out how monitoring would trigger corrective action.3:58Standing Buffalo wants the underlying technical and environmental documents to4:02support its own assessment.4:03A separate writer has already asked for federal review under the Impact Assessment4:07Act.4:07The request raised groundwater and fish habitat concerns.4:11Migratory birds, indigenous rights, and climate effects.4:14Those are concerns the writer wants examined.4:16The writer submitted an initial request to the Federal Assessment Agency on May 4th.4:21On May 15th, the agency advised sending the request directly to the minister with4:26copies to the agency.4:27A federal assessment decision hasn't been announced.4:30The writers said they knew of no publicly disclosed independent provincial or4:34federal assessment.4:35The nations are seeking independent environmental evidence, and no completed4:38assessment has been presented to resolve their demands.4:41Sherwood counselors unanimously passed first reading of the expansion rezoning on4:45October 7th.4:46Second and third readings still have to happen.4:48Council also approved public meetings and community engagement, and the proposal is4:52moving toward a public hearing.4:54Interim Reeve Ray Orb says the hearing will be advertised once scheduled.4:57On October 9th, he also said he didn't expect a 900-megawatt power plant at the5:02site.5:02His expectation leaves the final power supply decision open.5:05Four of Sherwood's seven council members reportedly quit the previous spring, and5:09Saskatchewan appointed interim counselors.5:11The original project was approved after those appointments.5:14Approval and construction on that original site came before the expansion's5:17unfinished rezoning process.5:19Other opponents at the municipal stage raised electricity use, psychological5:23impacts, and inadequate public consultation.5:25They also sought environmental review and First Nations consultation.5:29The construction schedule depends on more than council votes.5:31Bell expects the original facility to begin coming online in early 2027.5:36Additional building phases could start in 2027 as Bell secures customers.5:41Staged expansion could continue through 2030 and beyond, so the proposed schedule5:45remains conditional.5:46Operations were also expected by the end of 2027.5:49Those expectations describe a phased opening.5:52Bell hasn't supplied a single confirmed completion date for the enlarged campus.5:55Bell's Aquifer Assurance hasn't resolved the nation's requests for documents,5:59consultation, and environmental assessment.6:02Bell and the governments haven't announced an agreed construction pause or a6:05resolution of those requests.6:07The public hearing still has no announced date, and First Nations leaders have6:11identified court action as their possible next step.อ่านบทความลำดับเวลาของเรื่องHeyDexคลิปสั้น ↗ใครรายงานอะไรประเด็นที่สื่อมากกว่าหนึ่งแห่งรายงานCouncil advances the rezoning proposal2 สำนักข่าวNumber of additional data centre buildings2 สำนักข่าวProposed expansion campus footprint2 สำนักข่าวProposed construction schedule2 สำนักข่าวประเด็นที่สื่อเพียงแห่งเดียวรายงาน20รายงานโดย CTV News เท่านั้นRezoning process moves to a public hearing8 ต.ค. 1:37 UTCProposed expansion capacity8 ต.ค. 1:37 UTCBell presented expansion plans at an RM of Sherwood Council meeting on Wednesday.8 ต.ค. 2:11 UTCDate of the public hearing8 ต.ค. 1:37 UTCOpponents' concerns at the RM office8 ต.ค. 1:37 UTCรายงานโดย Global News เท่านั้นBell's announced expansion to 15 buildings10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCStanding Buffalo calls for construction to halt10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCBell conditionally purchases adjacent land8 ต.ค. 14:03 UTCCarry the Kettle alleges lack of consultation10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCFirst Nations leaders warn of possible court action10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCBell says facility does not use aquifer water10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCData centre approval followed interim appointments10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCCarry the Kettle says regional water is limited10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCStanding Buffalo rejects another First Nation's partnership as consent10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCConstruction status of the original data centre11 ต.ค. 2:00 UTCCarry the Kettle says regional aquifer needs protection10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCCouncil approves public meetings and engagement8 ต.ค. 14:03 UTCBell describes the closed-loop cooling system10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCCouncil members who resigned10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCGovernment appointment of interim councillors10 ต.ค. 23:15 UTCแต่ละบรรทัดคือข้อกล่าวอ้างตามที่เราบันทึกจากรายงานของสื่อนั้น เปรียบเทียบ ณ 11 ตุลาคม 2569 เวลา 6:25 UTC
