Council backs new data centre rules, stops short of moratorium

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News Council backs new data centre rules, stops short of moratorium City staff will develop a new framework that will come back to council next year for approval. Author of the article: By Michael McBean Published Aug 26, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 1 minute read Join the conversation Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante put forward a motion for city staff to develop a data centre policy. PHOTO BY JEAN LEVAC /Postmedia Article content Ottawa city council has unanimously approved a plan to develop new rules for large-scale data centres, but what those rules will look like has yet to be decided. Article content Council approved a motion from Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante directing city staff to develop a framework for assessing data centre proposals based on their size and potential impacts, including environmental considerations. Article content Article content Article content The proposed framework will come back to council next year for approval. Article content The Evening Citizen The Ottawa Citizen’s best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “This motion isn’t anti-data centre,” Plante told council, describing it as a middle ground between calls for a moratorium and an unrestricted approach to new development. Article content In the meantime, staff will notify council if the city receives an application for a “hyperscale” data centre, defined by city staff as a massive facility requiring at least 50 megawatts of electricity. Article content That would give councillors the opportunity to consider an interim control bylaw, which could temporarily prevent such a project from moving ahead while the city develops its new policy. Article content The decision comes amid growing concern about the strain data centres could place on the city’s electricity grid. Article content Hydro Ottawa CEO Bryce Conrad told council back in June that the utility was facing “extraordinary pressure” from large electricity users. Article content Plante had previously told the Citizen she supported a temporary moratorium on new large-scale AI data centres and was working on a motion addressing the issue. Article content Several Ontario…