Overview
- The Auchertool plan in Fife would cover about 170 acres and deliver roughly 600MW of power, making it one of the world’s largest planned data‑centre sites.
- More than 1,600 formal objections have been lodged against Auchertool and local MP David Torrance described public pressure as huge.
- Scotland’s finance minister has directed planning authorities to inform the Scottish Government of any development above 50MW and to require environmental assessments for some schemes.
- Campaigners and industry critics warn large new data centres will strain electricity grids and water supplies, push upgrade costs into household bills, and benefit from a government designation that can give them priority for water in shortages.
- Similar petitions and protests are growing across the UK as the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan pushes for more capacity, leaving policymakers to weigh tighter regulation or a moratorium and broader community impacts.