A PROMINENT campaigner has welcomed the First Minister’s changing position on hyperscale data centres in Scotland – but added that it should be accompanied by an urgent pause on all applications.
John Swinney has agreed to consider calls from the Scottish Greens and confirmed that the Scottish Government is considering providing planning guidance for councils considering AI data centre applications.
It comes amid fierce opposition by campaigners and concerns over the number of such planning applications across the country and the impact it might have on issues such as water and electricity usage.
For example, there are plans for an £8 billion AI investment zone in North Lanarkshire, a £5bn data centre project near the small village of Auchtertool in Fife, and a £2bn data centre in the Borders.
In total, 24 proposals have been announced so far, needing up to 6000MW of electricity – more than 1.5 times Scotland's current peak demand.
Pressed on the issue by Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay at FMQs, Swinney confirmed that the Scottish Government is “considering” the issue.
“I've been reflecting on the exchanges last week and looked further at this issue, and I'm giving active consideration to whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals, which are vital to our future prosperity,” the First Minister told MSPs.
Responding to this commitment, Kat Jones – the director of the environmental organisation Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) – welcomed the changing position.
“We have been calling for clarity on Scottish Government policy around 'green data centres' since December, so it is encouraging to hear that the First Minister will be doing this as a matter of priority,” she told The National.
“However, there are active planning applications for 'green data centres' in two councils, Falkirk and Fife, and one being appealed for Edinburgh, so we need this commitment to be accompanied by an urgent pause on all applications for hyperscale data centres while this is carried out.”
