Have your say on new AI datacentre proposal

Have your say on new AI datacentre proposal

Transition Kamloops  June 1, 2026 at 8:53 am

Transition Kamloops has been following proposals related to large-scale AI data centres in Kamloops, including the proposed AI data centre within the Kenna Village development.

The City of Kamloops will be holding two public hearings on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 7:00 pm regarding Kenna Village:

  1. Official Community Plan (OCP) Amendment Application OCP00160
  2. Rezoning Application REZ00860

 

Our AI Data Centres action team has prepared a submission to City Council for each of these hearings which will form part of the public record. We ask that you consider sending in your own input before 12 pm (noon) on Friday, June 5 (see how, below). We also invite you to attend the Public Hearing with us in-person or virtually on Tuesday, June 9 at 7:00pm.

  • OCP Amendment submission: Our OCP submission argues that Council should defer the OCP amendment until KAMPLAN is amended to recognize large-scale AI and hyperscale data centres as a distinct land use category with an appropriate planning framework.
  • Rezoning submission: Our rezoning submission argues that Council should defer the rezoning application until key questions regarding water use, electricity demand, noise, heat output, cumulative impacts, and ongoing public reporting have been satisfactorily addressed on the public record.

 

For those wishing to prepare their own submissions, our project members have prepared a backgrounder summarizing questions and concerns raised by researchers, journalists, health professionals, and community groups regarding large-scale AI data centres, including issues related to electricity demand, water consumption, noise, heat generation, infrastructure costs, transparency, economic benefits, and community impacts:

 

More information about the public hearing, submissions, and a link to join the hearing virtually can be found here.

Submissions can be mailed in or emailed to [email protected].

Whether you support, oppose, or have questions about the proposal, we encourage you to review the available information and share your views with Council.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed research, questions, and feedback to this project.

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Transition Kamloops

Transition Kamloops is a volunteer-driven, registered not-for-profit society focused on increasing local resilience and self-sufficiency in food, water, energy, culture and wellness. We emphasize a local economy, healthy ecosystems, and grassroots community building, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. We believe in a better way: a community that sustains life in all its diversity, strives for equality and justice and invests in the future.

Transition Kamloops recognizes that we are living on Secwépemcul’ecw—land that was never ceded to settlers, and continues to be home to vibrant Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions. We acknowledge the impact of colonization, forced displacement, and ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous peoples. We commit to listening, learning, and building positive relationships with Indigenous communities as we work towards reconciliation.

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