Key Takeaways
- • EverWind has proposed a $10 billion AI data centre campus and onshore wind program in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, with $8 billion allocated to the data centre campus and $2 billion to onshore wind energy projects, according to The Canadian Press.
- • The project would create 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent positions, with permanent data centre jobs paying between $135,000 and an unspecified upper figure.
- • EverWind will fund the data centre with its own capital under a long-term lease and will now pursue financing from banks and pension plans.
- • The company says it will bear the full cost of energy connections and network upgrades so they are not passed on to Nova Scotia ratepayers, and has signed on to the federal responsible data centre principles.
- • Premier Tim Houston does not plan to legislate new data centre rules, relying instead on existing environmental and industrial approval processes, drawing criticism from NDP Opposition Leader Claudia Chender.
Summary
EverWind, the New York-based company led by Vichie, announced a $10 billion proposal that it describes as the largest private investment in Nova Scotia's history. The plan comprises $8 billion to build a data centre campus and $2 billion to advance onshore wind energy projects. The company said the project will create 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent positions. Vichie, who launched EverWind about four years ago to develop wind and green hydrogen projects in Atlantic Canada, previously served as a senior managing director and co-founder at Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners and as a senior managing director at The Blackstone Group. He told a news conference in Point Tupper that the company could set an example for the rest of the country on bringing the industry to Canada while protecting Canadian sovereignty.
EverWind said it will continue pursuing its hydrogen development at Point Tupper, and that the hydrogen and data centre projects will complement each other, both powered by Nova Scotia's wind resources. The company plans to use its own capital for the data centre and, with a long-term lease in place, will now seek financing from banks and pension plans. The company has environmental approvals for four mainland Nova Scotia wind farms with capacity of 650 megawatts, 51 per cent owned by a First Nations consortium led by the Membertou First Nation. Negotiations are underway with the Membertou Development Corporation for a nine per cent equity stake in the data centre. Wind farms will not be ready by the expected late 2027 opening, but the company cited a provincial grid operator study indicating existing infrastructure can support the operation. About 200 megawatt-hours of battery storage is planned for the site.
Water for cooling will be drawn from Landrie Lake using a closed-loop system, according to EverWind. The first phase will average 100,000 litres per day, expanding to an average of 500,000 litres per day, roughly one per cent of the lake's safe daily yield of 34 million litres. Premier Houston described the project as a major vote of confidence for the rural area about 200 kilometres east of Halifax and said Canada lacks sufficient secure data infrastructure. Houston's government does not plan to legislate new data centre rules. NDP Opposition Leader Claudia Chender criticized the government for supporting the project without consultation, legislation or regulations.
The project is part of a wider wave of data centre proposals across Canada, alongside opposition in several communities, according to The Canadian Press.
EverWind said it will continue pursuing its hydrogen development at Point Tupper, and that the hydrogen and data centre projects will complement each other, both powered by Nova Scotia's wind resources. The company plans to use its own capital for the data centre and, with a long-term lease in place, will now seek financing from banks and pension plans. The company has environmental approvals for four mainland Nova Scotia wind farms with capacity of 650 megawatts, 51 per cent owned by a First Nations consortium led by the Membertou First Nation. Negotiations are underway with the Membertou Development Corporation for a nine per cent equity stake in the data centre. Wind farms will not be ready by the expected late 2027 opening, but the company cited a provincial grid operator study indicating existing infrastructure can support the operation. About 200 megawatt-hours of battery storage is planned for the site.
Water for cooling will be drawn from Landrie Lake using a closed-loop system, according to EverWind. The first phase will average 100,000 litres per day, expanding to an average of 500,000 litres per day, roughly one per cent of the lake's safe daily yield of 34 million litres. Premier Houston described the project as a major vote of confidence for the rural area about 200 kilometres east of Halifax and said Canada lacks sufficient secure data infrastructure. Houston's government does not plan to legislate new data centre rules. NDP Opposition Leader Claudia Chender criticized the government for supporting the project without consultation, legislation or regulations.
The project is part of a wider wave of data centre proposals across Canada, alongside opposition in several communities, according to The Canadian Press.
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