Clean power for compute
Stop rationing the power that the next economy runs on. Build more of it.
Why it matters
Since February 2026, new AI projects of 10 megawatts or more in BC compete for a shared 300 megawatts over two years, with 100 megawatts for conventional data centres. Alberta’s interim limit for large loads, by comparison, is 1,200 megawatts.
The concern behind those limits is real: electricity is finite, and ratepayers should not subsidize anyone’s server farm. The answer is more clean supply and better rules, not a fixed ceiling on the industry BC most wants to lead.
What we would do
- Replace the fixed AI and data centre allocations with a supply-led model: projects that bring new clean generation or storage get connected faster.
- Make large loads pay the full cost of their grid upgrades, so household rates are protected.
- Require heat recovery and closed-loop cooling on large builds, so each megawatt and litre of water does more.
- Offer First Nations equity partnerships first on new generation and compute sites on their territories.
- Publish every connection queue position and every decision timeline.
Questions you might have
Wouldn’t more data centres raise my power bill?
They could if the rules were written badly, which is why large users would pay the full cost of their own grid upgrades. We would also publish how large loads affect residential rates, so you can check whether this promise is being kept.
Would one get built next to my home?
Many people worry about this. In a May 2026 survey reported by CBC News, 71% of BC respondents opposed a large AI data centre within a few blocks of home. Siting would still go through local approvals, and every connection decision would be public.