Climate campaigners are calling for a ‘national conversation’ on plans to develop AI data centres across Scotland, amid fears over their impacts on communities, power supplies, landscapes and environmental targets.
A joint letter has been sent to Scotland’s Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad, calling for a public consultation on the rush to build scores of the energy-guzzling computing factories across the country.
The letter, spearheaded by Scotland’s climate coalition, has been sent just days after the Scottish Government agreed to temporarily pause progress on new proposals for the controversial schemes until new guidelines for planners are drawn up.
The signatories say that a formal public consultation must be carried out to establish Scotland’s position on hyperscale AI data centres with energy demand of over 50MW.
They are also recommending a full analysis of the effects these massive developments will have on the electricity grid and the country’s ability to achieve national climate goals.
Additionally, there must be an official definition of ‘green’ when used to describe a data centre.
The calls come as plans for a new 1,000MW data centre campus that would be the biggest in the world – requiring the same amount of power as half of Scotland’s entire current demand – were lodged in Dumfries and Galloway, adding to around 24 already in the planning system.
Fraser Sutherland, coalition manager of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said:
“So far the rush to build hyperscale AI data centres has been lurking behind smoke and mirrors. It’s time for transparency and honesty over what these massive developments will mean for the Scottish people expected to live among them.
What effects will they have on our energy supplies and bills, on our wildlife, landscapes and natural resources, and on our efforts to decarbonise homes, transport and industries so we are less exposed to fossil fuel price shocks?
The Scottish Government must commission an independent and thorough expert examination of the impacts of rolling these out.
There also needs to be full disclosure of the true numbers and locations of all schemes being proposed, even before planning consent is sought, so people are aware of plans for their area.
Ministers must also hold a national conversation on Scotland’s need for hyperscale data centres and whether or not our communities actually want them.
Following this responsible course of action will help reassure the Scottish people, planners and investors that the process is transparent and allow decisions to be made in the interests of the public, not tech company profits.”
Dr Kat Jones, director of Action to protect Rural Scotland, said:
“The public interest in the issue of hyperscale AI data centres is huge, and it is clear that all eyes are on the Scottish Government as they prepare the guidance and their strategic spatial approach – it is completely essential that this guidance is subject to a public consultation.
The communities who have been opposing hyperscale data centres have become the experts in data centres and their impacts, and they need to be a key stakeholder in creating the guidance.”
