Nova Scotia Premier Reverses Stance on Hyperscale Data Centres as EverWind Plans 420 MW Facility for Anthropic
Premier Tim Houston shifted from opposing AI data centres in mid-June 2026 to supporting them by October, coinciding with EverWind Fuels' plan to build a 420 MW hyperscale facility at Point Tupper for Anthropic. Critics question the project's reliance on grid power and natural gas instead of EverWind's excess renewable energy, raising concerns about Nova Scotia's 2030 emissions targets.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has reversed his position on hyperscale data centres within months, moving from reluctance to endorsement as a major project takes shape in the province.
In mid-June 2026, Houston stated that Nova Scotia was not actively pursuing AI data centres due to energy issues. By October 19, 2026, he had changed course, suggesting that such facilities could be good for the province.
The shift coincides with plans by EverWind Fuels to construct a 420 MW hyperscale data centre at its Point Tupper site in Pictou County, intended for lease to artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The proposed facility would consume approximately 3.7 terawatt-hours of electricity annually. For context, Nova Scotia Power’s total production in 2025 was 11.5 terawatt-hours, with sales reaching 10.2 terawatt-hours.
EverWind’s wind farms are projected to generate between 11.6 and 13.1 terawatt-hours per year. After supplying ammonia production needs, an estimated 5.6 to 8.1 terawatt-hours of excess electricity would remain available. However, the current Point Tupper plan does not rely exclusively on these on-site renewables. Instead, it involves using Lake Landrie for water cooling and accessing electricity from the Nova Scotia grid or natural gas pipelines.
Critics note that this approach risks straining the provincial electricity grid if data centres connect without dedicated power sources. There are also concerns that relying on natural gas or non-renewable grid power could jeopardize Nova Scotia’s 2030 emissions targets. Local communities have raised objections regarding water usage, noise, and potential impacts on electricity rates associated with siting the facility.
EverWind’s broader business landscape has also shifted. In the summer of 2026, E.ON cancelled its memorandum of understanding with the company, leaving Uniper as the sole client for 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia. Additionally, EverWind did not achieve its target of shipping 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia to Germany by 2025.
A hyperscale data centre is generally classified as having a minimum capacity of 100 megawatts and housing at least 5,000 servers. The proposed 420 MW EverWind facility significantly exceeds those thresholds.