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- calendar_today October 22, 2026
Residents Seeking Answers on Proposed Data Centre
People living in and around Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, have expressed uncertainty and raised questions regarding a proposed artificial intelligence data centre planned for the nearby Point Tupper industrial park. EverWind Fuels, the project's developer, has announced upcoming public engagement sessions to address local concerns.
Details of the Proposed Facility
Last week, EverWind Fuels revealed plans for a new data centre aimed at supporting AI operations for American software company Anthropic. According to company officials, they hope to open the centre late next year within Richmond County's Point Tupper industrial park, adjacent to the Town of Port Hawkesbury. Public information sessions are expected to start next month.
Community Concerns: Environment and Resources
Phillip Landriault, a resident of Port Hawkesbury, spoke about the need for more information, particularly regarding the data centre's potential environmental impact. "They're not necessarily against it. It's just, we don't have enough information yet," Landriault said. He emphasized a desire for comprehensive answers before deciding on the merits of the project.
Donna Babin of River Bourgeois in Richmond County expressed similar reservations, specifically about projected water and electricity consumption. "It's got a lot of good points, got a lot of bad points. People need jobs," Babin said, admitting she remains undecided on the proposal.
EverWind Fuels has addressed some environmental concerns by stating that the centre will eventually be powered by onshore wind farms, although these will come online after the facility begins operating. In the interim, the data centre will utilize the provincial power grid, with EverWind assuring the community that the cost will not be passed on to other power users.
Economic Impact and Job Creation
The company claims the construction phase will create about 2,000 jobs, with the operational facility requiring more than 200 full-time employees. Landriault noted that details about the nature and pay of permanent jobs would factor into his decision-making: "Are they, you know, good-paying jobs and even if they are, is it worth the cost?" he said. Other residents, like Jack Ronalds, expressed that any large-scale development in the industrial park should provide tangible benefits for Port Hawkesbury, including its infrastructure and workforce.
Resource Usage Plans
Addressing water usage concerns, EverWind intends to minimize consumption through a closed-loop cooling system. Occasional supplemental water will be sourced from the Landrie Lake water supply, which serves both the industrial park and the town. The company has stated it will only use about one percent of the system's total capacity.
Public Engagement and Calls for Oversight
Benjamin Lauzon, who works in Port Hawkesbury, is helping organize protests across the province, voicing frustration about what he describes as a lack of transparency. "The fact that this deal was done behind closed doors with a handshake and after-the-fact disclosure, I think, is the issue that most people have," Lauzon said. He supports calls from opposition politicians for the Nova Scotia government to hold a legislative debate and turn current provincial guidelines on data centre development into enforceable law. To date, the provincial government has declined this suggestion.
EverWind Fuels has stated its intention to follow all federal and provincial guidelines during the development of the data centre. The company affirms that more details and opportunities for public feedback will be provided at the upcoming engagement sessions.
Next Steps
With public engagement sessions set to begin next month, local residents await further information from EverWind Fuels as they weigh the potential benefits and impacts of the proposed artificial intelligence data centre in Point Tupper.
Source: cbc.ca.
