ECA Review 2024-02-22

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB February 22'24 15
AGRICULTURAL REAL ESTATE
KNEEHILL COUNTY
County re-zones property intended
for cryptocurrency mine
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
Kneehill County council re-zoned
agriculture land to light industrial to
accommodate an applicant who
intends to build a cryptocurrency
mine. The public hearing and votes
were held at the Feb. 13 regular
meeting of council.
During a public hearing Planning &
Development Officer Deanna Keiver
presented the application from Athill
Tech Solutions, which was represented
by its agent SABR Energy Consulting
to re-zone property on a piece of land
owned by a third party.
“Britestone Hutterian Brethren
Church are the current landowners of
SE 24-28-24 W4 and NE 13-28-24 W4,”
stated the staff memo. “They have
granted SABR Energy Consulting Inc.
the authority (agent) to apply on behalf
of Athill Tech Solution Ltd. to construct
and operate a 9.97-megawatt
natural gas-fired power plant for bitcoin
mining/data center operation.
“Cryptocurrency mining requires
the use of sophisticated computers
with significant power needs. While
some digital currency processing
facilities are directly connected to the
electrical grid to fulfill their energy
needs, others are not connected and
instead use other means.
This site will be natural gas fed from
the adjacent Ember Resources site to
operate the 9.97megawatt facility.
“The facility lease site will be 2.23
acres directly west of the Ember
Resources lease in the southeast
corner of the SE 24-28-24 W4. Access to
the site will be from the northeast
corner of NE 13-28-24 W4 which is
south and not part of Ember’s lease
site.
“Major components of the power
plant include six 1.475 megawatt generators,
one 1.12-megawatt generator,
seven power distribution racks, 20
data centre containers and natural gas
piping.”
It was noted the Alberta Utilities
Commission (AUC) already gave
Athill a checklist of requirements to
meet, which apparently the company
satisfied.
Keiver noted during her presentation
the land in question was zoned
agriculture and to accommodate a
cryptocurrency facility it must be rezoned
to light industrial (LI) under
which such a facility is a discretionary
use.
She further noted the re-zoning
already received first reading with the
proposal being publicly advertised.
She stated few
written submissions
were
received, two
from AHS and
Alberta
Transportation,
and none were in
opposition to the
re-zoning.
Coun. Wade
Christie, looking
at maps of the
proposal, asked if
the development
would be better
situated further
south.
Keiver
responded that’s
something for the
applicant and the
landowner to decide.
Coun. Debbie Penner asked if in the
future some of this land is sold, how
would access be handled? Keiver
responded an access agreement is
already on file.
Coun. Laura Lee Machell-
Cunningham asked if Kneehill
County requires a clean-up plan if the
mine closes down in the future. Keiver
responded the public hearing was
solely for the re-zoning with clean-up
plans a topic of discussion during the
development permit application.
This issue came up several times in
fact, with Reeve Ken King reminding
councillors the topic at hand was only
re-zoning of the property.
Representatives of both Athill and
SABR were online at the public
hearing. Coun. Carrie Fobes asked
what the emissions would be from the
seven generators described.
SABR spokesperson Samantha
Brown stated she didn’t have that
information handy but could forward
an emissions report to councillors.
The reeve asked if any members of
the public wished to speak, to which
Brian Loschuk, who described himself
as a neighbour to the site in question,
arose. Loschuk stated he had several
questions and concerns, including he
couldn’t find much information about
Athill and would like to know more
about them, the cryptocurrency
industry appears to be largely unregulated,
no reports such as noise and
emissions had been given to neighbours
and curiosity about how
councillors felt about risk assessment.
At this point the reeve once again
noted the public hearing was solely for
the re-zoning and questions about the
development itself would be handled in
the future during the development
permit process.
Brown responded as well by saying
SABR sent out information packages
to neighbours within a 1.5 km radius
in September 2023 and received no
feedback but would be happy to meet
with Loschuk to discuss concerns.
Coun. Faye McGhee stated she
wanted to clarify if the land is rezoned
whether the development permit
is automatically approved. Keiver
answered no, the development permit
application for the mine itself is a separate
process.
Coun. Machell-Cunningham
pointed out that once the land is zoned
LI industrial developments could
appear without going to the Municipal
Planning Commission (MPC) first.
Keiver responded that even if a use
is “permitted,” meaning it’s not mandatory
that it go before the MPC, staff
LEGACY DRILLING LTD.
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Pasture Wells
Drilling and Servicing
Jeff Southworth
Phone: 403-854-0172 • Hanna, AB
Phone: 403-396-2254 • Delburne, AB
E-Mail: legacydrillingltd@outlook.com
Emergency 24/hr On Call
may still bring it to the MPC if they
don’t feel comfortable approving it.
After the public hearing was closed,
councillors
debated the application.
Councillors
voted 5 to 2 in
favour of passing
second reading,
Fobes and Machell-
Cunningham
opposed.
Coun. Fobes
stated she would
have liked to see
the noise and emissions
report, with
Coun. Penner
responding those
reports would be
part of the development
permit
process.
Councillors
approved third
SOLD
Call Dallas Ellerby
Your Farm & Ranch Specialist
403.578.8105
LAND FOR SALE
CROP LAND
4500 acres - Chinook area
6000 acres - Cereal area
2400 acres - south of Hanna
1 Quarter - south of Veteran
GRASS LAND
16 quarters - south of Veteran
90 quarters - Youngstown area
2 quarters - south of Veteran
www.greaterpropertygroup.com
GREATER PROPERTY GROUP
Land for Sale by Tender
Parcel: 38 Quarter-Sections Acres: 6,033.77 +/-
reading of the re-zoning bylaw by a 5 to
2 vote, Fobes and Machell-Cunningham
opposed.
Bids must be unconditional and accompanied by a certified cheque or bank
draft for two (2%) percent of the bid price. All bids must be received by
12:00pm on March 6th, 2024. The owner will not be obligated to accept the
highest or any bid submitted.
PLEASE CONTACT SMITH & HERSEY
AGRIBUSINESS LAW LLP FOR THE
COMPLETE TENDER PACKAGE AT
(403) 527-5506, or info@smithhersey.
com. You can view the complete Tender
Package on our website
www.smithhersey.com/land-tenders/ Medicine Hat | Oyen | Hanna | Consort | Three Hills
LANDS FOR SALE BY TENDER
1/4 section north of
Veteran - 90 acres
broke, home site,
16’ x 76’ mobile
home, 40’ x 60’
SOLD
shop & working
corrals. Owner
willing to subdivide
acreage out.
cancow@
xplornet.com
The registered owner hereby offers for sale by tender the following briefly described
properties located in the County of Stettler No. 6, subject to the reservations,
exceptions and encumbrances contained in the existing certificate of title, but free
and clear of any financial liens:
PARCEL 1: NE 19-40-16-W4: 159 acres more or less, 60 acres native pasture,
80 acres improved pasture, remainder old farm site, wetlands and trees. Newer
perimeter fence around quarter. Two older bored wells and 1 burrow pit
(dugout). Farm site includes old hip roof style barn and an uninhabitable house
with a drilled well.
PARCEL 2: NE and NW 20-40-16W4: 307 acres more or less, 150 acres of which
is improved pasture, remainder native pasture and trees, one burrow pit (dugout)
and one older dugout, newer fencing on 3 sides of perimeter.
Parcels may be sold together or individually. The highest or any tender not
necessarily accepted. The land is sold “as is” with no warranties or representations
from the registered owner. References to acreage or composition of the Lands are
estimated only and subject to independent confirmation by potential buyers. For
more information about the land you may contact Lisa Mueller directly at
403-740-3410.
Tenders must be received by the offices of Simonin Law up to but not after
12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Tenders must be in a sealed envelope
marked “Mueller Tender” and must provide contact information, including a
phone number.
Buyer must sign an unconditional Purchase Agreement and provide a nonrefundable
certified cheque or draft equal to 10% of the purchase price payable to
Simonin Law within 5 business days of the Buyer being notified of acceptance of
their tender bid. Closing date shall be on or before Friday, April 12, 2024, unless
agreed otherwise in writing.
Buyer shall be responsible for own legal and closing costs, plus title insurance to
facilitate closing. Tender price shall be excluding G.S.T.
SIMONIN LAW
Suite A, 4819 - 51 Street, Box 1630
Stettler, Alberta T0C 2L0
403-742-3411