NDP renews call for emergency debate on $10B Cape Breton AI data centre project

The Official Opposition in Nova Scotia, the New Democratic Party (NDP), has recommitted its request for an emergency debate in the provincial legislature over a $10 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data centre project planned for Cape Breton. NDP Leader Claudia Chender voiced her party's concerns to reporters, urging the government to address issues such as potential tax levies, additional income sources, environmental protection measures, and protection for ratepayers.

The Nova Scotia Energy Department has assured the three levels of government and EverWind, the company behind the project, are committed to preventing any negative impact on power rates. EverWind, an American tech firm, is set to construct an 18,600-square-meter facility in Point Tupper, N.S., with American AI company Anthropic leasing the site for a 20-year period.

The facility is projected to consume 95 megawatts of electricity during its initial phase, with expectations of expansion to 325 megawatts by mid-2028. The project has sparked criticism from local residents and constituents across the province. Two parents attending an NDP information session expressed worry over the potential increase in power rates and environmental consequences, questioning whether the province is prioritizing such a project over their well-being.

The project's opponents also highlighted the risks associated with artificial intelligence and the environmental impacts, warning of potential rising costs of living and diminished quality of life for future generations.