A proposed large-scale data centre west of Langdon is generating significant discussion in the community, with hundreds of residents attending a recent open house to learn more about the project and voice their concerns.
The proposed development, known as the Wild Rose Power Hub, would be located in Rocky View County west of Langdon, south of Township Road 232. The project is being advanced by Chinook Development L.P. and would occupy approximately 194 hectares (479 acres) across three quarter sections.
According to project information presented at the open house, the facility would be a 1,300-megawatt hyperscale data centre designed to support cloud computing services, artificial intelligence applications, and large-scale data processing.
The June 3 open house at The Track Golf Course attracted a large turnout, with residents lining up before the doors opened and a steady flow of attendees throughout the evening.
While some residents expressed interest in the potential economic benefits, many focused their questions on water use, noise levels, environmental impacts, and the project's proximity to residential areas.
"I just don't understand why they have to build so close to a populated area," one resident commented during the event.
Feedback boards available at the open house reflected many of those concerns. Written comments included questions about groundwater protection, environmental impacts, and whether the project was appropriate for the area.
Rocky View County Division 7 Councillor Ken Ball said the strong turnout demonstrated the level of public interest surrounding the proposal.
"I've been to many open houses in my career, and usually four or five people show up," Ball said. "Obviously, people really do care about this."
The Wild Rose Power Hub team highlighted several potential benefits, including construction and long-term employment opportunities, increased property tax revenue, and proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure.
One of the most frequently discussed topics was water usage.
Project representatives stated the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system supplemented by glycol and other cooling technologies. According to project materials, the development would be connected to the Langdon Waterworks distribution system and is designed to avoid impacts on local groundwater supplies.
The developers also indicated there would be no on-site baseload power generation. Instead, electricity would be supplied through Alberta's existing power grid using nearby substations and transmission infrastructure.
Noise concerns were another recurring topic throughout the evening.
Project information stated that noise mitigation measures would include setbacks, engineered sound controls, noise barriers, and specialized cooling systems. Representatives described modern data centres as relatively quiet facilities compared to many industrial operations because they generate little truck traffic and have limited outdoor activity.
Environmental impacts also remain a point of discussion.
Project documents indicate the site consists primarily of cultivated agricultural land, with portions of wetlands and grassland. Developers state environmental studies have not identified rare plant species or significant wildlife habitat on the site, though some wetland impacts are anticipated and would require regulatory review.
The proposal comes as Alberta experiences rapid growth in the data centre sector.
Industry observers have noted that the province's available land, electrical infrastructure, and competitive energy market have made Alberta increasingly attractive for technology investments and artificial intelligence-related projects.
At the same time, communities across North America are wrestling with many of the same questions being raised in Langdon: How much water will these facilities use? What impact will they have on nearby residents? And do the economic benefits outweigh potential environmental concerns?
For now, those questions remain at the centre of the conversation.
Public engagement on the Wild Rose Power Hub continues through surveys and written submissions as Rocky View County moves forward with the planning process.