Protect Wheatland County
Stop the Goldfinch Datacentre on Prime Alberta Farmland
A 576-acre megadatacentre threatens our farmland, water, livestock, and rural community. We’re organizing to stop it — and we need your voice.
What Is at Stake
This isn’t about being against progress. It’s about demanding the right process for decisions that will change our community forever. If this proposal moves forward, Wheatland County stands to lose:
🌾 Prime Farmland
576 acres of Tier 2 agricultural land — some of Alberta’s best — would be permanently converted to industrial use. Once the topsoil is scraped away, it’s gone forever.
💧 Water & Livestock
Insufficient studies on how construction and operations would affect local groundwater and aquifers. Horse operations like Infinity Equine face unknown noise impacts from 24/7 cooling systems and generators.
🚜 Our Community
Up to 9 years of construction with 2,555 additional vehicles daily on rural roads. Range Road 264 — a primary access road — would be partially closed. Property values, quality of life, and peace of mind are all at risk.
The Good News — We Have Won Before
Here’s what Diode Ventures doesn’t want you to know: they have been defeated twice before — by communities just like ours, using the same concerns we’re raising today.
📍 Peculiar, Missouri — October 2024
After two years of community opposition citing farmland loss, water concerns, and an unknown end user, the city council voted to permanently ban Diode’s datacentre zoning. The Washington Post covered it.
📍 Charles City, Virginia — August 2025
Facing overwhelming resident opposition over noise, water usage, and agricultural land loss, Diode withdrew their application and walked away. The New York Times covered it.
The pattern is clear: Diode proposes without an end user, submits incomplete studies, and counts on communities being too disorganized to fight back. But organized communities win. That’s what we’re building here.
Hear From Your Neighbours
At the July 7, 2026 public hearing, the council chambers were overflowing. Twenty-four residents spoke in opposition — one spoke in favour. Over 100 written letters were submitted, the vast majority opposed. Here’s what some of your neighbours had to say:
“I do not think that the applicant has demonstrated enough technical expertise on a number of factors — groundwater impact, environmental impact, noise impact, impact to livestock — for this application to proceed.”
— Heidi Pradt, co-owner of Infinity Equine (horse operation adjacent to the proposed site)
“I’m testing out my retirement next year, and I’m hoping that’s not a wasted amount of money. I’ve put 15 years of savings into my 30-acre property, and now I don’t know if I’ll even have road access.”
— Heather Gagne, resident 2.6 km from the site, facing RR 264 closure
How You Can Help
Council is deliberating right now. Every voice matters. Here are three things you can do today:
📢 1. Contact Council
Tell Wheatland County Council that you oppose the Goldfinch Datacentre. A short, personal email from a constituent carries real weight.
💰 2. Donate
We need to raise $13,000 for independent hydrogeology, acoustics, legal, and agricultural assessments. Every dollar helps us fight with expert evidence.
📣 3. Spread the Word
Share our campaign with friends, family, and neighbours. The more people who know what’s at stake, the harder it is for council to ignore us.
⏰ This Is Happening Right Now
Wheatland County Council is deliberating on Bylaws 2025-32, 2025-34, and 2025-25. The public hearing has been held. A decision could come at any time. There is no “wait and see” — either we speak up now, or we lose this farmland forever.
Have information, documents, or photos that could help our campaign? Contact us — every piece of local knowledge strengthens our case.