This afternoon BitDeer presented a project plan to the community in Fox Creek, regarding the 101 mw power plant and future data centre. The following is a summary of the presentation and Q&A’s asked by community members.
Bitdeer is a Singapore-based global technology company with North American headquarters in San Jose. They operate in chip design and hardware manufacturing, data centres and infrastructure, construction, AI/high-performance computing, and Bitcoin mining.
Bitcoin mining is still their foundation, but they said AI data centres are part of their future growth strategy.
A big part of the presentation was focused on community partnership. They said they do not just want to be an employer, but also a community partner. They referenced sponsorships, youth programs, veterans programs, local events, and community donations in other places where they operate. They’ve already sponsored events like the Sno-Goers ASA Jamboree.
**The Fox Creek project**
Bitdeer purchased the previously permitted Opal power generation project in February 2025.
The proposed Fox Creek project includes:
\- 101 MW natural gas power plant
\- 100 MW Bitcoin mining data centre
\- Located south of the airport, about 1.5 km from Fox Creek
\- Approximately 19 acres of land
\- Estimated investment of about US$155 million
\- Around 300 construction jobs
\- Around 30 permanent operational jobs
\- Construction targeted around Q2 2026
\- Energization/operation targeted around Q3 2027
They clarified that the power plant has been permitted, but has not been built yet. It is a greenfield site with approvals, not an existing power plant.
**Bring your own generation**
Bitdeer said Alberta is encouraging data centres to bring their own generation instead of drawing power from the grid.
Their explanation was that the data centre would be “behind the fence,” meaning it would be powered directly by the on-site natural gas power plant instead of pulling power from the grid.
They also said the site would be connected in a way that allows the power plant to send power back to the grid if the Bitcoin mining facility is shut down. They described this as demand response.
Key points:
\- Bitcoin mining can be shut down quickly
\- They said the facility could potentially shut down within about 15 minutes
\- When shut down, the power plant could export power to the grid
\- This could happen during peak demand events
\- They said this is different from AI data centres, which generally need to stay online continuously
**Water use and cooling**
Water use was one of the main topics.
Bitdeer said the Fox Creek data centre would use a closed-loop water cooling system. They compared it to a car radiator. The system would be filled once, then the same water would recirculate.
Key points they gave:
\- Estimated initial water fill is about 250 cubic metres
\- Water would come from the municipal/public utility source
\- The system would be filled over a period of months, not all at once
\- No freshwater withdrawal from streams or natural water bodies
\- No discharge to soil, groundwater, or surface water
\- If coolant or water needs to be changed, it would be collected and disposed of properly
\- Glycol or antifreeze may be used in the closed-loop system
\- The data centre cooling system would use dry coolers, described as large radiators with fans
\- The power plant engines would also use a closed-loop/dry cooler system
They said the northern Alberta climate makes this type of closed-loop dry cooling more workable than it would be in hotter places like Texas.
**Effluent, discharge, and groundwater**
Bitdeer stated that there would be no discharge from the cooling system into the ground, soil, or water bodies. They said coolant or water that needs to be replaced would be collected and disposed of properly.
**Noise**
Bitdeer acknowledged that noise is a common concern with Bitcoin mining.
They said older sites, and those made by other companies had significant fan noise problems, including high-pitched noise, but informed that their newer technology is much quieter. Because they’re involved in the engineering of the facility and the hardware within it, they’ve engineered it to be quieter than the off-the-shelf options other data centres use.
They said preliminary noise studies for the combined power plant and data centre show the project remains within Alberta Utilities Commission daytime and nighttime noise limits.
They also said they plan to do operational noise monitoring after startup, including professional 24-hour calibrated testing.
Potential noise mitigation options mentioned included:
\- Fan silencers
\- Stack silencers
\- Noise walls, if required
\- Additional monitoring points beyond the strict regulatory radius
They said the noise report for the data centre addition would eventually be submitted to the AUC and become publicly available.
**Emissions, heat, and environmental impact**
Bitdeer separated the data centre from the power plant in its explanation.
They said:
\- The data centre itself does not produce emissions other than heat
\- The natural gas power plant would produce emissions
\- Carbon capture is still being investigated and designed into the power generation facility
\- The starting point may be one engine, with more engineering work still being done
A question was asked about whether heat from the site could create a heat pocket and dry out the surrounding forest or vegetation. Bitdeer said this is something they are currently investigating and researching. They referenced other sites in forested areas as examples they are looking at, but did not present a completed analysis at the meeting.
**Fire protection**
Bitdeer said fire protection planning is still being developed.
They mentioned:
\- On-site fire protection
\- Sprinkler systems inside buildings
\- Fire prevention planning
\- Working with MD of Greenview and Fox Creek
\- Making sure the project does not overtax local fire-response resources
They did not describe a finalized on-site firefighting brigade or completed emergency response plan.
**Local employment and contracting**
Bitdeer said they want to prioritize Fox Creek and Alberta contractors where possible.
Construction needs would likely include:
\- Electrical contractors
\- Site/facility piping
\- Electricians
\- General building trades
\- Heavy electrical work
For permanent operations, they said the site would need:
\- Electricians
\- Maintenance technicians
\- Repair technicians
\- Computer/mining equipment technicians
\- Security
\- Shift coverage because the facility would operate 24/7
They said many of the technician jobs can be trained in-house and do not require a computer science degree. They emphasized willingness to work and trainability.
They estimated about 30 permanent jobs for the combined power plant and data centre.
**Taxes and local benefit**
A question was asked about taxes.
Because the project is located in the MD of Greenview, direct property tax revenue would go to the MD, not directly to the Town of Fox Creek.
That does not mean Fox Creek receives no benefit. It means any direct revenue-sharing or municipal benefit would likely require the Town to work with the MD of Greenview. Their hope is that many of the permanent employees and contractors choose to live in Fox Creek, use local services, support local businesses, and contribute to the community.
Bitdeer also said they intend to support Fox Creek through:
\- Local hiring
\- Sponsorships
\- Local procurement
\- Community investment
Potential conversion to AI data centre
Bitdeer confirmed that the Bitcoin mining facility could potentially be converted to an AI data centre in the future, but said this would not be a simple switch.
They said conversion would require:
\- Significant infrastructure changes
\- Backup generation or redundancy
\- Regulatory applications
\- Stakeholder engagement
\- Possibly additional AUC approvals
\- More telecommunications capacity
\- A different operating model because AI data centres need to stay online
They suggested any conversion would likely be at least 2 to 5 years after energization, because the upgrade would be significant.
They also said AI would have greater fibre and internet requirements than Bitcoin mining, but said they would work to ensure the town’s internet quality is not degraded.
**Health and electromagnetic concerns**
Residents asked about cancer, miscarriages, electromagnetic frequencies, lithium battery off-gassing, and reports from communities near large data centres.
Bitdeer responded that:
\- They are not aware of cancer or health issues among employees
\- Their facilities follow regulated emissions and noise requirements
\- The Fox Creek site will not have large-scale lithium battery systems
\- They do not use large battery backup systems like some hyperscale data centres
\- They would check internally on electromagnetic frequency concerns
Their answers on this topic were mostly general. They did not provide specific health studies, EMF studies, or epidemiological data during the presentation.
**Technology and equipment**
Bitdeer said it manufactures its own Bitcoin mining machines and is several generations into its technology.
They said their newer miners are:
\- More energy efficient
\- Quieter
\- More robust than older equipment
\- Designed and manufactured in-house
They also said the Fox Creek facility would not be a temporary containerized deployment. It would be a permanent, purpose-built facility with a long-term investment horizon.
They suggested the site could have a life of around 20 years or more, with technology refreshed over time.
**Community engagement**
Bitdeer said this was the first of more planned community sessions.
They said they want to be transparent and continue answering questions as the project develops.
They also mentioned a new website with a Fox Creek project page where updates and contact information would be available.
They said:
\- Project updates will be posted online
\- News releases will be posted online
\- The presentation itself may not be made public
\- More community sessions are expected
Main items I’d still like to see more detail on
The presentation answered a lot of basic questions, but there are still a few areas where more detail would be useful as the project moves forward.
**Water source and disposal**
\- They stated the fill water would come from a municipal/public utility source
\- They stated no discharge would occur
\- A more detailed water and coolant management plan would be helpful
**Heat impact on surrounding forest**
\- They acknowledged the concern
\- They said they are investigating it
\- A completed thermal or vegetation-impact review would help answer this more clearly
**Fire risk and response**
\- They said planning is underway with Greenview and Fox Creek
\- A finalized emergency response and fire prevention plan would be useful once available
**Noise**
\- They said preliminary modelling shows compliance
\- The public noise report will be important to review when it is filed
Carbon capture
\- They said carbon capture remains part of the design
\- It still appears to be under engineering review
AI conversion
\- They said future conversion is possible
\- They said it would require major upgrades and regulatory steps
\- It would be worth watching how this develops over time
Health and EMF concerns
\- They gave reassurances
\- They did not provide specific studies during the meeting
\- It would be helpful to see technical information on EMF, worker exposure, and any relevant health reviews
Overall, the presentation was useful. Bitdeer answered quite a few questions directly, and it sounds like there will be more opportunities for the community to ask questions as the project moves toward construction.
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