BC Green Party Leader Emily Lowan called for an AI data centre moratorium until the province steps in with real regulations during a press conference in Nanaimo, BC. She was joined by local residents concerned about an announced Nanaimo data centre, Hilary Eastmure and Paul Manly — city councillors who voted against rezoning the proposed site  — and advocate Kathryn Barnwell. 

Residents of Nanaimo have expressed concerns about the newly approved data centre’s water usage and the security of their local watershed.

“Cities are operating without a safety net. With no provincial or federal action, local governments are forced to regulate data centres themselves,” said Lowan. “They simply do not have sufficient resources or power to do so effectively.”

Eastmure, Manly, and Barnwell spoke to frustrations over the province’s hesitancy to regulate data centres, arguing that it is not viable for local governments to provide the necessary regulatory framework. 

Left with few options, the City of Nanaimo has said they will charge this data centre $60,000 when it consumes beyond its water limits. “The problem with that,” Lowan stated, “is charging a big corporation a minor fee is like giving a parking ticket to a billionaire. It’s just the cost of doing business." 

“I am calling for a moratorium on AI data centres until the risks of these facilities are understood and regulated to protect local communities,” Lowan concluded. “I am urging our government to put people over profit.”

In the United States, 50 jurisdictions have issued moratoriums on data centres, with more legislation on the way. Similar actions have been taken by Irish and Dutch governments.