Port Hawkesbury Mayor Calls for Water Safeguards Ahead of $10-Billion EverWind Data Centre Project
Port Hawkesbury Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is seeking independent analysis and enforceable safeguards to protect the municipal water supply as EverWind plans a $10-billion AI data centre in Point Tupper, raising concerns about housing, water capacity, and municipal costs.
Port Hawkesbury Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is calling for independent analysis, transparent information, and enforceable safeguards regarding water usage tied to a proposed $10-billion investment by EverWind. The project includes an $8-billion data centre in Point Tupper, located in rural Richmond County, that would be usable by U.S. artificial intelligence company Anthropic.
EverWind announced the investment last week, but local officials began reviewing the proposal earlier. Port Hawkesbury council first discussed the project on Oct. 6, prior to the public announcement, examining federal and provincial principles for data centres. On Oct. 20, a committee of the whole meeting focused specifically on whether the local water utility could handle demand from the development.
The Landrie Lake Water Utility, jointly owned by Port Hawkesbury and Richmond County, supplies the town’s municipal water. Built in the early 1960s to support heavy industry, the utility historically managed higher water demands than those currently anticipated. EverWind estimates the data centre will use 100,000 litres of water per day during its first phase, reaching an average of 500,000 litres per day once the facility is completed.
Mayor Chisholm-Beaton emphasized that protecting the municipality’s water supply is critical. She noted that while initial assessments suggest sufficient water capacity, those findings are based on estimates and require a clearer understanding of actual requirements.
Beyond water, the scale of the project presents other challenges for the Strait area. The investment is estimated to create approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent positions once operational. Although the site is in Richmond County, many workers may reside in Port Hawkesbury, raising concerns about pressure on the local housing supply and prompting discussions on the need for expedited work on housing issues.
Financial considerations also loom for the municipality. Port Hawkesbury will not receive direct tax revenue from the development because it is located outside town boundaries, yet the municipality may face additional costs. This dynamic has prompted discussions about securing community benefits from the project.
Community sessions are expected in November to involve residents in the ongoing discussion.