The Town of Olds has officially joined the review of a proposed $10-billion data centre and power plant, telling the provincial regulator it wants firm commitments on both the economic upside and the community impacts before any approval is granted. The municipality filed a Statement of Intent to Participate with the Alberta Utilities Commission on May 29, 2026, entering a process that has drawn intense interest from residents.
In its 12-page submission, the Town said its position is “support in principle,” but that further details must be verified and addressed through the regulatory process. The document spells out specific concerns raised by residents, including how emergency generator air quality would be managed, what noise levels the project would create, whether there will be a community benefit program, how emergency management coordination would work, and what financial security would be in place for end-of-life reclamation. The Town of Olds has posted the full submission on its website.
The proposal from Synapse Real Estate Corp. would build a 1-gigawatt AI data centre powered by a 1.4-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant on 121 hectares in northeast Olds, near Highway 2A and Highway 27. If built, it would be the largest AI data centre in Canada. The project has divided the town of roughly 10,000 people since it was first publicly announced in January 2026. Supporters point to an estimated 2,000 construction jobs, more than 1,000 permanent technology positions, and $5 million to $6 million in offsite levy contributions. Opponents have raised alarms about noise, air quality, and the development’s proximity to homes.
The road to a hearing has been rocky. The AUC rejected Synapse’s initial application on March 6, 2026, citing “significant deficiencies” that included insufficient public consultation‑notice had gone out just 14 days before the filing‑along with a draft environmental evaluation that was missing information and incomplete noise assessments. Synapse resubmitted its application on April 3, 2026, after addressing the issues. The AUC hearing is now set for August 4, 2026.
Residents have been signing up in large numbers to have a say. As of May 13, 2026, there were 272 participants and 17 observers registered for the proceeding, including members of the Olds Transparency Project and Olds Residents for Responsible Development, which has hired legal counsel. Mayor Dan Daley has said the project could be one of the most significant digital infrastructure investments in Canada, but the Town’s filing makes clear that the community’s questions about how the facility would affect daily life need binding answers before shovels hit the ground.
