EverWind’s massive data centre set to power artificial intelligence as Nova Scotia hosts project, CBC reports

Project planned at Point Tupper

The proposed facility is in pre-construction at Point Tupper, outside Port Hawkesbury. EverWind, led by Australian-American private equity veteran Trent Vichie, is developing the site. The company has signed a lease agreement with an unnamed artificial intelligence firm for the first phase. The term is at least 20 years.

Electricity and renewable plans

Existing electricity generation on Nova Scotia’s grid is expected to supply the facility initially. Company officials said the provincial grid operator’s system-impact study found the grid could support the first phase.

EverWind says its renewable energy plans in Nova Scotia remain in place. The company has said wind farms would eventually help meet the data centre’s power needs.

Water use and oversight

The province and federal government say they expect data centres to provide local benefits, limit environmental effects and water use, and avoid causing increases in electricity rates. Premier Tim Houston has recently set out similar guidelines.

Community stake and project scale

The project is among the larger data centres recently announced in Canada, though some proposals are much bigger. The first phase of Alberta’s Wonder Valley data centre is intended to exceed one gigawatt.