Bell plans to acquire 895 acres of agricultural land for an AI data center

According to rezoning documents filed with the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, the planned buyout of agricultural land will increase the footprint of the data centre south of Regina to approximately 1,055 acres (the current campus spans 160 acres). The existing project received approval in April, with the launch of two out of the six approved data halls scheduled for the first half of 2027.

The new plan provides for the construction of up to nine additional buildings, and construction work could start as early as 2027. This expansion is associated with the 1.2-gigawatt project announced in September, valued at about $52 billion. To provide power, SaskPower will allocate 300 megawatts, while Bell will generate another 900 megawatts using natural gas at a separate site.

Yesterday, the council gave first reading to the rezoning proposal, though further procedures, including public hearings, are required for final approval. Due to disturbances at past meetings, the event format was moved online, drawing criticism from protest organizer Taran Ulrich. Land records list Deputy Reeve Kevin Chekay as one of the landowners who, according to Reeve Ray Orb, recused himself from voting and discussions.

It is noted that the land purchase deals remain conditional, and current owners will be able to continue farming the undeveloped plots under lease-back arrangements. Full implementation of the project depends on customer commitments, permits, environmental assessments, and First Nations consultations.