Nova Scotia Parents and NDP Push Back on EverWind's Proposed Point Tupper Data Centre
Parents in Nova Scotia and the provincial NDP are raising alarms over EverWind's planned data centre in Point Tupper, part of a $10-billion investment that includes American AI company Anthropic as a tenant. While the government and grid operator insist ratepayers will be protected, NDP Leader Claudia Chender is seeking to recall the legislature to enshrine those protections in law.
EverWind has announced plans to build a data centre in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, as part of a proposed $10-billion investment that also includes new onshore wind development. American AI company Anthropic has signed up to lease the planned facility.
The proposal has drawn concern from local parents worried about potential increases in residential power bills and environmental impacts, including effects on water supply. Bethany Isaksen, a nurse and mother from Dartmouth, expressed concern that the project could increase power bills and strain family budgets. Sam Walerickton, a mother from Musquodoboit Harbour, stated that fears over rising power costs and water supply issues have made her household hesitate about having another child.
The provincial government and grid operator maintain that existing measures adequately protect ratepayers. The Department of Energy states that any costs created by the project are to be paid by the company and not passed to Nova Scotians. IESO Nova Scotia says the facility will be "fully interruptible" to accommodate high-demand periods such as low-wind days or cold snaps.
Parents and the NDP argue that current assurances are insufficient and are demanding legally enforceable protections. NDP Leader Claudia Chender intends to bring a motion to the Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee to recall the legislature.