Vulcan Transparency Project Facts · Documents · Decisions · Accountability

Where Will the Next Hyperscale Data Centre Go?

A 2GW hyperscale AI data centre and power plant have been proposed on agricultural land beside Travers Reservoir in the county of Vulcan. This is an Environmentally Significant Area, a critical irrigation resource, a provincial recreation area, a long respected children’s summer camp and the nearby community of Little Bow.

This Is The Wrong Location For Heavy Industrial Development

What is an AI data centre
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Who we are

About the Committee

"The Vulcan Transparency Project is a collaborative, volunteer-led group formed to provide an informed and balanced review of the proposed large-scale AI data centre development in Vulcan County."

The Committee brings together individuals with extensive professional experience across a broad range of disciplines, including engineering, land and resource development, regulatory affairs, government, environmental and land-use matters, corporate and business leadership, communications and media, and law.

This diverse expertise allows the Committee to assess the proposal from multiple perspectives including land-use planning, infrastructure, environmental impacts, public safety, regulatory compliance, economic development, and procedural fairness.

We are also the families that have lived in the area for more than 30 years. We are not asking for special treatment; we're asking decision makers to follow the rules already in place. Protect this agricultural and recreational landscape and recognize that this is the wrong location for industrial development of this scale.

Stay informed

Updates

Committee updates, regulatory milestones, community meetings, and media coverage of the proposed AI data centre will be posted as they happen.

Watch, listen, read

Media coverage

Recordings from community meetings, explainers on the proposal, and the presentations we've given to date.

Podcast

Rural Revolt Over AI Data Centre

News

'Not here': Vulcan County residents push back against AI data centre proposal

Document

Residents Fight Data Center — August 4th, 2026

Document

Open Letter to Danielle Smith — August 31th, 2026

Know the facts

The Proposal

Palliser Grid General Partner Inc. has proposed a 2GW hyperscale AI data centre and power plant to be developed on agricultural land beside Travers Reservoir in the county of Vulcan. This is an Environmentally Significant Area, a critical irrigation resource, a provincial recreation area, a long respected children’s summer camp and the nearby community of Little Bow.

A project of this kind requires a substantial, continuous electrical power supply and significant water for cooling, along with new supporting infrastructure.

The proponent's application states the project would bring investment and jobs to the region. Community members have asked for clearer evidence on water sourcing and allocation, power infrastructure requirements, the amount of productive farmland that would be taken out of production, and the long-term economic case. We are tracking these concerns. More in-depth questions are raised on the Issues page.

See the Initial Application.
Sunset over Travers Reservoir, near the proposed data centre site Travers Reservoir: development site in yellow
By the numbers, by the topic

The Issues

The questions we're asking, organized by topic. Each section links to the research, filings, and organizations behind it. We'll keep adding sources as the record grows.

Environmental+

Beyond water use, a facility of this scale raises broader ecological questions for the land and reservoir it would sit beside. We're asking what independent environmental assessment has been done on Travers Reservoir and the surrounding watershed, how the development would affect wildlife habitat and bird corridors in the area, and what safeguards are proposed for air quality, noise, and light pollution from a facility that would run continuously, day and night.

Water+

Water is the lifeblood of Southern Alberta and the Bow River is critical to the health of the region.”    Source:  Bow River Irrigation District Website, Bow River Irrigation District 2025 Financial Statements and Annual Report,  www.BRID.ca

If this is true then why has the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID), located in Vulcan County, recently reallocated 6.8 billion litres of water annually, from irrigation to heavy industrial use in an AI Data Centre proposed for Vulcan County?

Why is water being diverted to support the Land Developers and Billionaires who are developing Artificial Intelligence when the principle intention for the use of this water is to supply the needs of irrigators, farmsteads, homesteads, small municipalities and livestock and grazing operations in eastern Vulcan County.  In 2025 the Bow River Irrigation District supplied water to support crop production on approximately 300,000 acres of farmland.  This water is meant for people and the production of food, not heavy industrial AI Data Centres.  
AI Data Centres function 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and cannot operate without cooling water.  The next time there is a drought in Southern Alberta (when, not if) who will be first in line for the 'lifeblood that is water' - Land Developers and their AI Data Centre Billionaire Friends, or people like you and me?

Agriculture+

Agricultural production in Vulcan County is a top economic driver in Alberta, anchored by grain crops, oilseeds, and livestock operations. The local economy relies heavily on extensive dryland and irrigated farming, supported by regional water resources like the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID).

A vital component of the BRID system is the Travers Reservoir which was created in the 1950's by building the Travers Dam on the Little Bow River.

Water is initially diverted from the Bow River at the Carseland Weir, moves via the main canal into Lake McGregor, then through a connecting canal into Travers Reservoir and the Little Bow Reservoir. This system provides irrigation to over 300,000 acres of farmland.

The County of Vulcan includes over 1.01 million improved acres operated by approximately 1,050 farms. Vulcan County ranks as the third-highest overall gross agricultural-producing municipality in Alberta, historically reporting hundreds of millions in gross farm receipts, according to Statistics Canada data.

Power & Energy+

Unlike more typical data centers, AI data centers use a massive amount more power to run computer equipment and the utilities such as cooling systems to support the servers. 

Context on power usage: the built-out facility proposed would use 2GW (2000MW) of power.  The city of Calgary with all its residents as well as commercial and industrial users have peaked at 1.8GW (1824MW) on July 23, 2024 during a hot spell in the city. Though there is renewable energy in the area, most of this energy is spoken for in the Alberta grid and curtailed energy could account for less than 10% of the 2GW facility according to an estimate on the original Palliser Grid website for MWh curtailed. (information has since been removed) .

The shortfall of power would require a  Substantial powerplant Substantial powerplant for primary base power needs.  Context: One of Alberta’s largest single powerplant facilities is the Shepard Energy Center at 0.869GW. (869MW)  A 2GW AI Datacenter would require more than 2x Shepard power plants to run continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.  This does not include backup power for the facility, which according to the original design documents submitted to Vulcan County for re-zoning by Palliser Grid, would be diesel generators.  

Context: Large industrial diesel generators, such as those found in trains, are typically between 0.001GW (1MW) to 0.004GW (4MW) each.  You would therefore require hundreds of these generators to be able to take on the whole power load of the AI Datacenter to meet the proposed 99.99999% uptime requirements.Energy storage, to better make use of renewables, has been listed to use hydrogen fuel cells and/or pumped hydro.  Once more technical information is available we can comment on these technologies as they were not listed in the original Vulcan County rezoning package, but have since been brought forward.

Legal+

 “When the public process fails, the courts exist to ensure that governments follow the law”

The residents of Little Bow have begun legal action in two specific areas as shown below. These process and issues are still unfolding and we will update as we are able.

1. Residents have filed an application with the Alberta Court of King's Bench seeking judicial review of Vulcan County Council's decision to redesignate approximately 595 acres of land from Rural General to Rural Industrial under Bylaw 2026-007 to facilitate the proposed Palliser Grid AI Data Centre Campus – one of the largest AI Data Centre developments contemplated in the county. The respondents have been served with the Originating Notice .

2. Under Alberta’s Access to Information Act (ATIA) we have submitted requests to the County of Vulcan and the Old Man River Regional Services Commission (ORRSC) asking they provide copies of all verbal and written communications regarding the re-zoning application and subsequent approval. We are asking for clarity around the decisions made and the processes applied. We have received responses from both agencies and in the process of sorting out the disclosure and determining whether to appeal.

Regulatory+

Does Alberta have the appropriate regulatory framework for projects of this unprecedented scale?

Currently municipalities across Alberta are making decisions in isolation — one project at a time. We are concerned that many rural municipalities may not have the specialized expertise or resources necessary to adequately evaluate the full range of issues associated with large-scale AI data centres, and that fiscal considerations could disproportionately influence local decision making.

See our Letter to the Premier, where we asked for regulatory policies that include:

  1. Mandatory Development Criteria
  2. Take the Right Place, Right Rules Approach
  3. Complete Applications — No Missing Information Allowed
  4. Minimum Qualification Thresholds to Prevent Speculative Applications
  5. Protect Water and Our Agricultural Resources
  6. Clarify Water Use
  7. Specific Noise Standards
  8. Comprehensive Fire and Emergency Planning
  9. Meaningful Public Consultation
  10. Require Cumulative-Effects Assessments
  11. Prevent Municipalities from Competing with One Another
  12. Who Should Regulate Data Centres
  13. Create a Single, Transparent Provincial Registry
  14. Financial Security for Decommissioning and Reclamation
  15. Municipal Accountability and an Accessible Appeal Process
Safety+

Residents have also raised serious public safety concerns, including the potential for fire, and the fact that the only access and evacuation route passes directly into and beside the proposed industrial site.  Other concerns with this industrial development include noise, lighting, air, and water pollution.

Our story

History of Little Bow

Over 70 years ago

Travers Reservoir established

Travers reservoir was established over 70 years ago and has become a critical part of the irrigation system in southern Alberta, supplying water to 300,000 acres of farm land.

Following the reservoir

Little Bow parks established

Once the reservoir was complete, governments then established Little Bow Provincial Park and Little Bow Provincial Recreation Area to be used for recreational purposes. These parks are visited by thousands of Albertans every year.

1980s

Environmentally Significant Area designation

Given the unique nature of the man-made lake and these parks, the government recognized the area surrounding Travers reservoir as an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) in the 1980s. The ESA now provides habitat for several species at risk.

1981

Southern Alberta Bible Camp founded

The Southern Alberta Bible Camp (SABC) was established on the north arm of the lake in 1981 and has become one Alberta's most respected childrens' summer camps.

1990

Little Bow community founded

In 1990, the first houses were built in the nearby community of Little Bow, which now includes 250 properties.

June 2026

Farmland rezoned for industrial use

In June of 2026, Vulcan County Council rezoned approximately 595 acres of farm land to industrial use, making way for a 2GW AI hyperscale data centre, one of the largest contemplated in the province.

Get involved

Take Action

The decisions on this proposal are still being made which means there's still time to shape them. If you're a resident of Vulcan County, your voice carries particular weight. Here's what you can do. Elected officials respond to volume. A short, personal letter (even five sentences) adds to the record they can't ignore. Use the template below as a starting point, then make it your own.

01

Send a letter to your MLA and county councillor

Elected officials respond to volume. A short, personal letter even five sentences adds to the record they can't ignore. Use the template below as a starting point, then make it your own.

Email List Example Letter
02

Donate to support the committee's work

Independent research, technical review and legal actions all take resources. If you would like to help with this work, please consider sending a donation by etransfer to littlebow.aidc@gmail.com

Every dollar goes directly toward keeping this record public and accurate. We appreciate your support.

03

Volunteer your time or a skill

We need people to help with research, note taking at meetings, mailouts, and keeping this site current. If you've got an hour a month, it helps.

Offer to help
04

Submit a formal comment to the regulator

Written submissions to the Alberta Utilities Commission and Vulcan County become part of the official record and carry the most procedural weight. Comments are strongest when they're specific, cite the facts, the concern, and what you're asking for.

Watch here for more information to file.

05

Sign on as a supporter

Join the community registry. It shows the regulator and elected officials the scale of concern, and it puts you on the list for meeting notices and deadline reminders.

Add your name
06

Share this with someone the proposal affects

The proposal moves fast. Word of mouth is still how most of Little Bow finds out what's happening. Share this site with a neighbour, a family member, or your grazing co-op.

The record

Documents

Key external sources
PDF
Originating Notice Re Judicial Review June, 2026
Filed see date
Legal
Open
PDF
Open Letter to Danielle Smith August 31th, 2026
Filed see date
Regulatory Government
Open
PDF
2026-05-19 Response to Access to Information Request - Fire Report - Travers Solar
Filed see date
Safety Government
Open
PDF
Cumulative Effects Review - Dr. Brad Stelfox Assessment of Beacon CER June 14, 2025
Filed see date
Environment Open
PDF
AI Datacenter Tech Primer
Background reference
Technical Open
PDF
Bylaw 1985-006 McGregor, Travers Little Bow Area Structure Maps
Filed see date
Legal Environment
Open
PDF
Bylaw 2026-007 Schedule 'A' Final
Filed see date
Legal Open
PDF
Bylaw 2026-007 Timeline
Filed see date
Legal Open
PDF
Bylaw 2026-007 - Initial Data Centre Proposal
Proponent document
Proponent Open
PDF
Brief of Argument - Ronald Girvitz April 28, 2026
Filed see date
Legal Open
PDF
Vulcan County Objection Bylaw 2026-07 Request for New Hearing
Filed see date
Legal Open
PDF
Bylaw 2026-07 Registrants Presentations
Filed see date
Community Open
PDF
Bylaw 2026-007 Written Responses
Filed see date
Community Open
PDF
June 10th, 2026 Public Hearing – Power Generation Scale and Siting (Presentation)
Presented June 10, 2026
Legal Government
Open
PDF
Request for Postponement of June 10th Public Hearing – FOI Redactions, Bylaw 2026-007
Filed June 8, 2026
Regulatory Government
Open
PDF
June 10th, 2026 Public Hearing Submission – Letter of Objection, Bylaw 2026-007
Filed May 28, 2026
Government Legal
Open
PDF
Request for Visual Impact Assessment – Bylaw 2026-007
Filed April 10, 2026
Legal Government
Open
Support this work

Donate

Independent research, technical review, printing, and keeping this record public all take resources. The committee is entirely community-funded and every contribution helps.

Where it goes

Donations fund the committee's core work: independent technical and legal review of filings, printing and mailouts, meeting costs, and the upkeep of this site. We're volunteer-run, there is no paid staff.

A community effort

This committee is made up of residents, ranchers, and families of Little Bow and the Travers Reservoir area not a professional advocacy organization. Contributions of any size help keep the information on this site current and accurate.

Reach us

Contact

Questions about the proposal, tips on new filings, or want to volunteer? We want to hear from you.

Vulcan Transparency Project
Email
littlebow.aidc@gmail.com
Phone
587-215-8644 or 403-466-9710
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