Anthropic, maker of the Claude AI chatbot, has signed a lease for a planned data centre in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, that will be built by EverWind.
EverWind said more than $10 million is expected to be invested in the data centre project, including $8 billion for the development and construction of the facilities and $2 billion to finance the expansion of EverWind’s onshore wind power generation in the province, according to an Oct. 16 news release.
The $2 billion would support four of the company’s wind projects in Bear Lake, Windy Ridge, Kmtnuk, and Upper Afton, beginning with an initial 95 megawatt (MW) phase in late 2027, followed by a 325 MW expansion potentially in 2028.
“At full development, the 420 MW campus would expand Canada’s domestic computing capacity to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence and digital services,” EverWind said.
The company said the data-centre facilities would be built with large-scale battery storage and the ability to reduce or pause their draw from the electricity grid when wind generation is low.
“Of course, projects of this size must be developed responsibly,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wrote on social media.
“EverWind has committed to meeting the expectations of both the federal and provincial governments to protect electricity ratepayers, safeguard local water resources and ensure communities share in the benefits. We will hold them to that.”
Houston said the data centre is expected to generate approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent jobs. The announcement of the centre also comes as Ottawa commits to investing in Nova Scotia’s Wind West initiative, he said.
The Wind West project, an offshore wind energy initiative facilitated by the Nova Scotia government, aims to generate 5,000 MW of energy in its first phase, with potential for further expansion.
Citing projections by Halifax-based Davis Pier Consulting, EverWind says the data centre is expected to generate approximately $137 million in provincial GDP annually at full operation, as well as provincial corporate income tax of approximately $1.5 billion over an initial 20-year term.
The Ecology Action Centre and East Coast Environmental Law raised concerns about potential impacts on the Landrie Lake watershed, nearby tributaries, and wetlands, citing insufficient details on protective setbacks and vegetation clearing.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
