Malachite One Data Centre

Proposed on-site generation: 930 MW at full build. Natural-gas generation proposed to serve the data centre. This is neither approved generation nor measured data-centre load. [2][1] Proponent projection

AESO grid request?Grid connection request×A request for new or changed electricity delivery capacity through the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).Requested capacity is not measured electricity use, a guaranteed connection, or approval to build a data centre.Learn more →: P3114 at 74.9 MW. AESO's August 2026 list identifies Banshee Data MPC Load as active at Stage 2, with a November 1, 2027 in-service date. A queue record is not regulatory approval, a guaranteed connection, or operating demand. [5] Public record

Full-build arithmetic: Published total does not reconcile. The Phase 3 table reports 1,104 MW total, but its listed 930 MW generation and 74 MW grid components add to 1,004 MW. ADCW leaves the extra 100 MW unresolved. [2][5] ADCW context

Early generation schedule: Equipment and phase figures need clarification. The schedule describes eight 30 MW units during 2027 to 2028, which equals 240 MW, without explaining how that equipment plan relates to the Phase 1 table's 100 MW generation figure. [2] ADCW context

Natural-gas demand: Up to 150 million cubic feet/day. The developer's Phase 3 full-build estimate, not measured fuel use or a disclosed gas-supply contract. [2][1] Proponent projection

Optional carbon capture: Up to 2.8 million tonnes CO₂/year claimed. Emerald projects carbon capture beginning in 2031 and says it could capture approximately 90% of power-plant carbon dioxide. CCS is not part of initial operation. The presentation says the storage reservoir is permitted but does not identify the permit or establish approval of the Malachite capture, transportation, and injection system. [2][1] Proponent projection

Project emissions: Complete estimate not published. The presentation does not provide a complete annual greenhouse-gas inventory for each operating phase, including years before optional CCS begins, residual emissions after capture, upstream gas emissions, or grid electricity. [2] ADCW context

Cooling and process-water design: Primarily air-based; supplementary water cooling proposed. Emerald says the data centre would primarily use closed-loop?Closed-loop cooling×Cooling fluid circulates repeatedly through a contained loop instead of being routinely discharged after one pass.That describes the loop, not the whole site's water use. A separate heat-rejection system can still use water, and filling, maintenance, and leaks also matter.Learn more → air-based cooling, with evaporative cooling available during warmer conditions. Most proposed water demand is associated with power-plant steam generation rather than routine data-centre cooling. No complete project water balance has been published. [2] Proponent statement

Proposed water supply: Diversion rate published; project authorization not identified. Emerald proposes the Embarras and McLeod rivers, shallow and deep groundwater, recycled power-plant water, and water recovered through future carbon capture. Its combined river rate is 0.05 m³/second, equivalent to 4.32 million litres per day if continuous, but a diversion rate is not confirmed consumption?Withdrawal, consumption, and discharge×Withdrawal is water taken from a source. Consumption is the portion not returned to the same water system. Discharge is water released after use or treatment.These are different quantities. Check which one a water figure describes before comparing projects.Learn more →. Alberta's viewer shows nearby Tourmaline oil-and-gas authorizations, including Embarras River Licence 406533 for 80,000 m³/year; those records do not identify Malachite One or establish its water authorization. Emerald also says about 1.5 litres would return to the atmosphere for each litre withdrawn, but provides no engineering water balance, recovery assumptions, water-quality analysis, or approved return route. Atmospheric release is not the same as returning water to either source watershed. [2][7] ADCW context

Project-specific sound evidence: Not publicly disclosed. Project-specific sound details were not found in the public sources reviewed. A predicted sound level is not a measurement from an operating facility. ADCW context

Full-build concept: Up to 7.1 million sq. ft.. A three-phase proponent concept, not approved building area. Phase 1 lists 2.0 million square feet and Phase 2 lists 4.7 million square feet. [2] Proponent projection

Crown-land tenure: Required; disposition number not published. The province and developer place the concept on Crown land. The presentation lists a public-lands lease as required but supplies no issued Malachite disposition or lease number. [1][2] ADCW context

Treaty geography: Treaty 6 territory. The federal historical treaty-boundary dataset places the approximate project area within Treaty 6. This is geographic context and does not establish project-specific consultation, effects, consent, or community positions. [8] ADCW context

Project-specific consultation: Public record not identified. Emerald lists First Nation consultation adequacy as a required process but does not identify the communities consulted, the Crown's consultation file, issues raised, accommodation measures, or an adequacy decision. [2] ADCW context

Target construction: Beginning in 2027. The developer projects first revenue in 2028 and full buildout in 2030. These dates remain dependent on approvals, financing, procurement, a customer, and construction. [2][1] Proponent projection

County stage: Presentation received as information. Council unanimously accepted the June 23 presentation as information. This was not rezoning, a development permit?Development permit×A municipality's approval allows a specified use or development on a particular site, subject to its land-use rules and any conditions.Separate provincial or utility approvals may still be needed. A permit does not establish that construction has begun or that the facility is operating.Learn more →, or an expression of project approval. [3][4] Public record

Pecuniary-interest declarations: Two Council members left for the item. Mayor Wade Williams and Councillor Shallen Erickson declared pecuniary interests due to family and left during the presentation. The minutes provide no further explanation. The declarations are recorded for transparency and do not, by themselves, establish misconduct. [4] Public record

AUC status: No active project-specific application identified. No active application under Malachite One, Emerald Energy Technologies, or a clearly project-specific Banshee power-generation description was identified in the AUC current-applications list as of August 27, 2026. [6] ADCW context

Environmental approvals: Project-specific records not identified. The presentation lists EPEA and Water Act approvals as required. ADCW did not identify an Emerald or Malachite-specific authorization in the reviewed provincial viewers. Existing Tourmaline oil-and-gas records near Banshee cannot be treated as Malachite approvals. [2][7] ADCW context

Municipal approvals: Rezoning and development permit still required. The presentation says forestry-to-industrial rezoning and a development permit would be needed before the proposed buildings, setbacks, access, and related works could be authorized. [2] Proponent statement

Proposed investment: Up to CA$20 billion. Alberta Major Projects describes up to CA$15 billion for the data centre and CA$5 billion for associated power generation. These are estimates, not committed or financed expenditures. [1] ADCW context

Projected operating life: 30 years. A proponent planning assumption. No approved operating term or decommissioning plan was found in the reviewed sources. [2] Proponent projection

Data-centre employment: 300 growing to 700 claimed. The presentation's operating estimate conflicts with Alberta Major Projects, which reports 300 to 500 long-term data-centre jobs. Neither source supplies a phase-by-phase staffing plan. [2][1] ADCW context

Power-facility employment: 40 to 60 full-time positions claimed. The presentation also projects 500 to 1,000 construction workers during shorter power-facility construction bursts. These are proponent estimates, not observed employment. [2] Proponent projection

2032 County tax estimate: Approximately CA$52.4 million. Emerald's projection assumes a CA$15 billion build, 50% assessable assets, and specified building-and-structure and machinery-and-equipment mill rates. It is not a County forecast, tax agreement, or guaranteed payment. [2] Proponent projection