$10-Billion AI Data Centre Plan in Nova Scotia Sparks Backlash Over Environment and Oversight
EverWind Fuels' plan for a $10-billion AI data centre in Point Tupper, leased by Anthropic, has triggered public outcry and political debate in Nova Scotia over environmental assessments, water use, and the lack of prior community consultation.
In October 2026, EverWind Fuels announced plans to build a $10-billion artificial intelligence data centre on an 18,600-square-metre industrial site in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia. The facility is expected to come online by the end of 2027. American AI company Anthropic has signed a 20-year lease for the project, which will draw 95 megawatts of electricity during its first phase. A 325-megawatt expansion is scheduled for mid-2028, bringing the total energy demand to 420 megawatts.
The announcement has generated significant backlash from local residents and opposition politicians. The planned site is located about 20 minutes from the home of Julissa Stewart in southern Cape Breton. Residents have expressed anxiety and suspicion regarding the rapid rollout and the absence of prior community consultation. EverWind’s chief financial officer stated that consultation could not begin before the Oct. 16 announcement due to a strict non-disclosure agreement with Anthropic. Within two weeks of the announcement, a petition on Change.org calling to stop AI data centre development in Nova Scotia gathered more than 24,000 signatures.
Political debate has centered on whether new legislation is required to govern such projects. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston resisted calls for new laws, stating it is not clear if they are needed and arguing that existing guidelines and approval processes should be followed. Lora MacEachern, deputy minister of environment and climate change, confirmed the data centre does not require an environmental assessment because it is not on the automatic trigger list. NDP Leader Claudia Chender called for legally binding regulations, citing Nova Scotia's history of large industrial projects causing pollution and social implications.
Water usage is another major point of contention. EverWind estimates the system will use an average of 100,000 litres of water per day from Landrie Lake during the first phase, rising to 500,000 litres per day after the expansion. Peak water demand represents 1.5 per cent of Landrie Lake's estimated sustainable daily yield.
Experts note that while the region's cold climate may help mitigate direct water concerns, indirect impacts remain. Vaibhav Bahadur, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, noted that closed-loop cooling systems require more electricity, leading to additional water use in Nova Scotia due to the province's reliance on fossil fuel-generated power. Tech critic Paris Marx stated that companies are pivoting to closed-loop systems to head off environmental criticism but lack transparency on trade-offs like coolant use and energy demands.