NEXTDC runs a data centre in the north Canberra suburb of Bruce. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Canberra is already home to more than a dozen data centres, with further developments proposed in Beard and potentially Hume.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says there is no need to pause the development of new data centres because the ACT's standards will likely meet or exceed proposed national rules.
The national data centre standards are expected to be legislated early next year.
Many might not have noticed they are there, but facilities on industrial estates across Canberra — and in at least one instance in the suburbs at Bruce — are housing vast amounts of data and increasingly AI.
The ACT government estimates there are already 15 data centres in Canberra, and says there are proposals for a new one in Beard, as well as a possible extension to another in Hume.
CDC Data Centres operates eight data centres across four campuses in the ACT, employing about 250 people.
The company's chief executive, Greg Boorer, set up their first data centre in Canberra in 2007.
CDC Data Centres CEO Greg Boorer says investment in renewable energy generation and "closed-loop" cooling systems have helped allay local community concerns about data centres. (Harry Frost: ABC News)
He says the city's cool climate, close proximity to the federal government — a major client — and 100 per cent renewables-sourced electricity make it an ideal location.
"Canberra is great because it's actually quite cool and cold in winter," Mr Boorer said.
"But even during summer, it actually gets very pleasant in the evenings because of the altitude.
"So in a year-round sense, it's actually the coldest place in Australia that has all of the ingredients: so the energy, the power, the data connectivity and also the educated workforce that can actually make this industry very successful.
With servers in a data centre generating a lot of heat, temperatures and stable power supply are key factors for operators.
CDC's data centre in Beard, which is still being fitted out, will have a total capacity of 40 megawatts (MW).
