In August 2026, Goldfinch Technology Park reached an important milestone when Wheatland County Council gave third and final reading to amendments to the Goldfinch Industrial Area Structure Plan, approved a Data Centre Area Concept Plan, and redesignated the applicable lands to Industrial General.

The approvals establish the land-use framework for the proposed 575-acre technology park and allow the project to advance into subsequent stages of engineering, infrastructure planning and regulatory review.

Located just outside of Calgary within an established industrial area in Wheatland County, Goldfinch has been through an extensive planning and assessment process. The land use amendments included an Area Concept Plan to establish a framework for long-term development, supported by technical work examining environmental considerations, traffic, geotechnical conditions and stormwater management.

For Diode Ventures, the process was more than securing a land-use change. It was also an opportunity to understand community concerns and incorporate appropriate changes into the project framework.

“Projects of this scale generate important questions for a community, and we appreciate the time and consideration that Wheatland County Council and residents have given to the planning process,” said Diode Ventures Co-President Rachel Attebery. “We are committed to continuing that work as Goldfinch advances through the next stages. Responsible development means building trust through transparency, listening, careful planning and addressing impacts through the appropriate processes.”

Incorporating community input into the plan

Throughout the land use amendment process, Diode worked with local residents, landowners, County officials and other stakeholders to provide opportunities to learn more about the project, ask questions and share feedback.

That input helped inform changes to the applications and the resulting development framework. Among the changes were a revised land-use designation, expanded landscape buffers and screening, relocation of primary site access from Highway 24 to Township Road 222, phased development and additional noise and construction controls.

The project framework also includes a commitment not to use the local groundwater aquifer or local surface waters for data-center cooling. Future cooling systems will be selected with advanced water conservation technologies in mind.

“These conversations contributed valuable perspectives to the planning process and helped us better understand the issues that matter most to the community,” Attebery said. “The goal is to establish a framework that allows for responsible growth while appropriately addressing potential impacts.”

The County’s decision followed extensive planning, technical review and public input. With the land-use approvals now in place, significant work remains before any development can proceed.

The next phase of development

Land-use approval is an important step, but it is only one phase in the development of large-scale digital infrastructure. Goldfinch will now move into additional engineering, site and infrastructure planning, transportation planning and subsequent development and building approvals, as applicable.

Diode will also continue working through Alberta’s established electricity planning and interconnection processes with the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) and applicable transmission providers. This work will consider available grid capacity, required infrastructure and Alberta’s evolving framework for serving large-load customers.

“Achieving the land-use approvals is an important milestone, but it is one step in a longer development process,” said Diode Ventures Co-President Josh Johnson. “We look forward to continuing to work with Wheatland County, neighboring communities, First Nations and other stakeholders as the project moves forward.”

That continued engagement will be an important part of the next stage of planning. Development projects of this scale require coordination among local governments, infrastructure providers, landowners, communities and other stakeholders to ensure that growth is supported by the necessary infrastructure and appropriate planning safeguards.

An opportunity for Wheatland County and Alberta

Goldfinch also represents an opportunity to attract private-sector investment and support economic diversification in Wheatland County and Alberta.

Potential benefits include construction and technical employment, opportunities for Alberta contractors and suppliers, expansion of the County’s industrial assessment base and increased municipal tax revenue. More broadly, the project supports Alberta’s growing digital infrastructure sector and the province’s efforts to diversify its economy.

As Goldfinch Technology Park advances, Diode will continue to work with the County, community members, First Nations and other stakeholders as the project moves through the next stages of planning, engineering and regulatory review.