A "big tech free-for-all" could put communities and the environment at risk, an MSP has warned.
Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, raised the alarm following a Scottish Government decision that no data centre applications should be decided until the government draws up new planning guidance.
This comes after growing pressure from the Scottish Greens and campaigners over the climate impact and scale of hyperscale data centres, including a major proposal in Auchtertool.
Mr Ruskell said: "The spread of hyperscale data centres is a threat to our climate and to communities like Auchtertool which are facing proposals for massive sites.
"Following pressure from the Greens and local campaigners, the Scottish Government has finally accepted the urgent need for stronger safeguards.
"Critically, they appear to have agreed that no application should go ahead until those safeguards are in place.
"Their language was worryingly vague on that key point though.
"We now need a clear national strategy, mandatory environmental assessments, and real support for councils like Fife who are being forced to deal with these applications."
He warned that approving just the first 24 proposed sites could see them consume 1.5 times the amount of electricity used across Scotland at peak times.
Concerns have intensified in Fife, where Fife Council is currently considering an application for a hyperscale data centre in Auchtertool.
Following pressure from the Scottish Greens and community campaigners, the Scottish Government has also committed to introducing mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments as part of the application process.
Mr Ruskell said: "Our communities need to have a say on what is being built on their doorsteps.
"And Scotland needs an overall plan for how many of these developments we really need and whether they can be built without serious environmental harm.
"We cannot allow ourselves to sleepwalk into a big tech free-for-all.
"It would push up our energy bills, damage our environment and leave communities across Fife to pick up the pieces."
Share