AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 6, 2026
Open House Sparks Tension in Lorneville Community
An open house event intended to inform the Lorneville community in Saint John about a proposed hyperscale AI data centre became a scene of pointed exchanges and frustration Thursday night. The event, which drew around 200 residents inside the venue and more outside, was part of the province's requirements under the Energy and Utilities Board and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.
Community Concerns Over Data Centre Project
The project, proposed by Beacon AI Centres in partnership with VoltaGrid, calls for a 390-megawatt data centre at the Spruce Lake Industrial Park. Since its announcement in October 2025, the proposal has met significant resistance from local residents. Signs reading "No AI data centres" were prominent among protesters, expressing ongoing community opposition to the project.
Adam Wilkins, a Lorneville resident and vocal opponent of the data centre, stated, "There is no social licence for this project," emphasizing the perceived lack of community support. Wilkins also raised concerns that the project's backers might move forward without properly addressing local opposition.
Unresolved Questions and Alleged Lack of Transparency
Throughout the meeting, residents pressed project leaders and consultants on a range of issues, including the anticipated air and environmental impacts, water use, and promised community benefits. The centre would include an onsite natural gas plant, reported to potentially emit more than 750,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year according to the project's own environmental impact assessment filing.
Many residents voiced frustration over what they described as a year-long lack of engagement and unanswered questions from project proponents. "We have sent numerous emails and received absolutely no replies," said resident Jill LeBlanc, criticizing both the responsiveness and transparency of those involved.
When Beacon AI CEO Joseph Shovlin and other representatives responded, they were frequently met with heckling and demands for more direct answers. Climate activist Ashley Anthony, serving as the event's moderator, attempted to maintain order and challenged the session’s effectiveness, suggesting it was no more than a procedural requirement.
Environmental Impact Assessment Process Clarified
During the event, Shovlin reiterated that the project currently has no tenant and acknowledged that approval was not a foregone conclusion. "We're working through this process. So there is no tenant commitment, and I can categorically confirm that," Shovlin stated.
The province's EIA branch director, Crystale Harty, explained the assessment’s function as a planning tool designed to help avoid or mitigate environmental impacts. Harty outlined that the project is undergoing a "determination review," relying on input from experts across government levels, and could lead to project approval, denial, or conditional approval. She noted that while the primary goal is not to halt projects, the process does allow for projects to be denied under certain circumstances.
Some residents, however, raised concerns over the provincial process, citing a perception that such reviews nearly always result in project approval and questioning why the current proposal is not undergoing a more comprehensive review. Harty indicated that additional information and studies related to the review would be made available soon, and that further community engagement meetings could be scheduled if necessary.
Next Steps and Ongoing Dialogue
Beacon AI Centres and its consultants stated their intention to return to the community with answers to questions that remained unresolved at the session. However, skepticism persists among residents about both the adequacy of public consultation and the sincerity of the consultation process. With a decision on the data centre project still pending, local opposition and demands for transparency are expected to continue.
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Source: cbc.ca.
