Campaigners against two “humungous” proposed new data centres are urging Scots to submit views before Thursday’s deadline. The public have until July 2 to respond to plans to construct hyperscale data centres in both Larbert, near Falkirk, and Auchtertool in Fife.
Conservation charity Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) – which has led calls for a moratorium on such developments – said the two centres combined would require 900 megawatts (MW) of power, the equivalent of almost a quarter of Scotland’s current peak electricity demand.
APRS director Dr Kat Jones said: ”Each of these two hyperscale data centres are absolutely humungous. As well as the massive impacts they have on the local communities, their vast energy use will have implications for our grid, our climate emissions and our energy prices.”
She added: “This is something that matters to everyone in Scotland and we are encouraging anyone who feels strongly about hyperscale AI data centres to respond to these applications directly via the relevant planning portal.
“As well as objecting to hyperscale AI data centres as they come through the planning system we are calling for a moratorium from Scottish Government until research on the impacts, and our governance and policy can catch up with this AI juggernaut.”
Over 5,000 people have signed a petition against the data centre planned for Auchtertool, with more than 3,100 objections submitted against the Larbert site.
View 2 ImagesAn artist’s impression of the Larbert data centre campus(Image: HAndout)
Andrea Cail, chairwoman of Auchtertool Community Council, said the campaign – which has been backed by Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance – had brought together the village and surrounding communities.
She said: “We have leafleted, developed banners, held meetings, spoken with our elected councillors, MSPs, MP and the media. Everyone has contributed from school children to our older residents.
“Conversations in person, on social media and by letter have united behind one aim – to urge Fife Council to reject this proposal and refuse planning permission in principle for a 600 MW data centre on the edge of our village.”
Ms Cail added: “These hyperscale AI data centres are so huge and use so much energy and water that they are not just a local issue.
“The impacts on climate emissions, air pollution and on Scotland’s energy grid and electricity prices is going to impact the whole of Scotland. This is why we are calling on people everywhere to stand with us to oppose this development.”
Tasha Marsden, who is campaigning against the planned data centre in Larbert, said: “The opposition to this proposal just keeps growing. We have more than 3,000 objections on the Falkirk council planning portal and hundreds more stream in every day.”
She added: “If anyone is still to write an objection, the clock is ticking down. We are encouraging everyone to submit their opinion, engage in the planning process and make their voices heard.”
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The Scottish Government has rejected calls for a moratorium on new hyperscale data centres, but in Holyrood last week First Minister John Swinney said he would consider if it is “appropriate” for local councils to take decisions on them
He told MSPs he would “explore” whether such decisions should be taken locally “given the scale of the developments involved”.