CRD directors’ motion looks to explore impacts and policy options on AI data centres

Two Capital Regional District (CRD) directors are bringing a motion forward aimed at exploring potential environmental impacts and policy options on regulating AI. The post CRD directors’ motion looks to explore impacts and policy options on AI data centres appeared first on CHEK .

Two Capital Regional District (CRD) directors are bringing a motion forward aimed at exploring potential environmental impacts and policy options on regulating AI. CRD Directors Jeremy Caradonna and Dave Thompson are introducing a motion on AI data centres. It asks staff to research environmental, utility, and land-use impacts and policy options to regulate them.

“I would say 90 per cent-plus of people I spoke to about this have deep concerns about it,” said Caradonna. Watch below: Loading the player... The motion isn’t to create any binding restrictions, and there are no proposed data centres within the CRD right now, but Caradonna says with “relatively abundant water resources,” it could be a matter of time before an application is made.

“What we’ve asked the CRD is for a report back from CRD staff on what the regional district’s role here, potentially in regulating the existence of AI data centres, and also just a little more information on what they are, what their environmental impacts are,” said Caradonna. The federal government released its national AI strategy, “AI for All” , last month promising more than $2 billion in funding and to create 250,000 jobs by 2031. Among the goals is to expand domestic data centre capacity to reduce reliance on foreign companies.

Protests and public backlash have been seen globally against the infrastructure due to its environmental impacts and water usage. The City of Nanaimo approved a rezoning permit for a data centre on a rural lot on East Wellington Road last November, which was met with strong opposition. At 200,000 square feet, it would be the largest data centre built on Vancouver Island.

“We’re talking here hundreds of thousands of litres of water per year,” said resident Kathryn Barnwell in a November 2025 CHEK News interview. The city would later say in a statement that the rezoning application was a decision that aligns with the Official Community Plan, and that water usage for that property would be around 55,000 to 69,000 litres of water per day. The city said a shopping mall in Nanaimo uses around 100,000 litres a day.

Nanaimo Coun. Hilary Eastmure is bringing forward a motion similar to Thompson’s and Caradonnas’, requiring future applications for data centres to have details on water usage, energy consumption, and conservation plans. Caradonna and Thompson say there is a disconnect between levels of government on its AI strategy, leaving local governments behind to deal with backlash “What we’re seeing with the feds is kind of an overemphasis, I think, on being a cheerleader.

As opposed to kind of regulating in the public interest, to protect public interest,” said Thompson. A similar motion will go to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) this September, aimed at coordinating all levels of government on AI. The CRD motion will go to a committee meeting first.

If it passes, the CRD board could vote on it, but it would be several months before staff report back. RELATED: ‘Very scary’: Nanaimo neighbours have water worries about new data centre The post CRD directors’ motion looks to explore impacts and policy options on AI data centres appeared first on CHEK .