British Columbia has taken a decisive step to safeguard its power grid by permanently banning new cryptocurrency mining projects. Canada’s third most populous province introduced new legislation to manage electricity use among emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and data centers.
Authorities said in a press release that the move ensures the region’s clean energy resources support projects that bring stronger economic benefits and more jobs for residents. Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adrian Dix noted that British Columbia (BC) should act with “urgency to leverage our clean-electricity advantage”.
The government will prioritize electricity connections for industries such as natural gas and mining, which generate more consistent revenue. “Other jurisdictions have been challenged to address electricity demands from emerging sectors,” the energy ministry said Monday, warning that poorly managed growth could lead to higher rates for consumers.
Limiting AI power demand
Besides curbing crypto mining, BC plans to regulate electricity available for AI data centers. BC Hydro, the state-owned utility, will allocate 300 megawatts for AI and 100 megawatts for data centers in a competitive process beginning in early 2026.
To put things in perspective, Meta’s new data center in Texas could use as much as 1 gigawatt of power on its own. Meanwhile, industries like forestry, hydrogen, and manufacturing in BC won’t face power limits, helping them grow steadily over time.
Infrastructure and indigenous participation
BC also plans to speed up work on the North Coast Transmission Line by skipping some lengthy approval steps, which could save up to 18 months. The government will change how power connection costs are handled so several companies can share the financial load instead of just one.
In addition, new rules will allow Indigenous communities to own part of future power projects, helping them benefit more directly from local development.
British Columbia’s decision is a big shift in how regions manage power use. It shows the growing struggle between making money and saving energy, and it could inspire other places to rethink crypto mining’s heavy power demands.
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