Canadian province moves to limit AI power use, ban crypto mining
OTTAWA – British Columbia proposed legislation to limit how much electricity will be available to artificial intelligence data centres, and moved to permanently ban new cryptocurrency mining projects.
The government of Canada’s third-most populous province will prioritise connections to its power grid for other purposes like mines and natural gas facilities because they provide more jobs and revenue for people in BC, the energy ministry said on Oct 20.
“Other jurisdictions have been challenged to address electricity demands from emerging sectors and, in many cases, have placed significant rate increases on the backs of ratepayers,” the department said on Oct 20.
That is a reference to US states like Virginia and Maryland, where a…
