More than twenty people attended Sustaining North Berwick’s Climate Cafe in September. Jo MacNamara, a campaigner with Sustaining Dunbar, spoke about its campaign against a hyper-scale data centre proposed beside Dunbar to boost use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“Everything about hyper-scale data centres for AI is jaw dropping,” said Jo. The proposed site spans 84 football pitches from the ASDA roundabout to West Barns. “‘Developer Thistle Sands Data Ltd says the data centre will be so unobtrusive you won’t know it’s there!” said Jo.

In a scoping paper to East Lothian Council Thistle Sands claims its data centre would be ‘green’. “But it would remove agricultural land and ruin the soil at a time of national food insecurity” said Jo. “Yes, they propose recirculating water to remove heat generated by the data centre, but their plan would use PFAS toxic ‘forever chemicals’ that must be disposed of every five years.”

It has been suggested that waste water from the data centre could help heat communities “but such as district heating system doesn’t yet exist,” said Jo, “and water from the data centre would need further heating even if it did.” Long-term under-investment in the energy grid means the centre couldn’t easily link with offshore wind, “and what happens when the wind doesn’t blow?”

As a planning application hasn’t yet been submitted for the data centre Jo’s advice is to read up on the issues “when the application is made we’ll only have three or four weeks to lodge objections.” She recommended Action for the Protection of Rural Scotland as a source of information.

Sustaining Dunbar is part of a national campaign in response to 30 proposals for hyper-scale data centres across Scotland (including Cockenzie). “Were all approved these would double the country’s energy use,” said Jo. Concerns have been raised in the Scottish Parliament, where MSPs recently called on the Scottish Government to pause support for hyper-scale data centres until improved environmentally guidance is published at the end of the year. However the Parliament stopped short of asking for the moratorium many campaigners have called for.

Sustaining North Berwick’s next Climate Cafe will be Saturday 31^st October, 10-11.30am at St Andrew’s Blackadder Church. This will be a chance to discuss reactions to the screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing in North Berwick on 4^th October and to chat about new ideas and local action. Join us then to connect with and learn from other’s who want a thriving and sustainable community. (No need to book)