British Columbia proposes new power rules for AI, data centers, CP says

Canada’s British Columbia government is proposing changes to its energy rules that would force companies from certain industries to fight for access to a set amount of power, The Canadian Press says. Rather than the current first-come, first-service structure, the government says the new policy would prioritize natural resource and manufacturing projects, while AI, data centers and hydrogen-for-export projects would have to bid for their power. The changes tabled by Energy Minister Adrian Dix would also make the current ban on cryptocurrency connections permanent, the publication adds. Publicly traded Canadian Bitcoin mining companies include Hut 8 Corp. (HUT), Bitfarms (BITF), and Hive Digital Technologies (HIVE).