LOWER RIVER INHABITANTS, N.S. — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says he’s happy with the progress of public consultations on a $10-billion artificial intelligence data centre planned for southern Cape Breton.
Speaking to reporters following a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Amazon warehouse in Dartmouth, N.S., the premier said he heard that the first of two information sessions organized by Everwind Fuels was calm and respectful on Tuesday evening.
“There were lots of answers (Tuesday) and (we) certainly know that there are no answers that would satisfy some people on this file, but we’re just trying to make sure we follow the science, we follow facts and we just move forward in an appropriate way,” Houston said Wednesday.
“But the data centres .... It’s happening. So we might as well, in Canada, show a leadership role, and Nova Scotia can take a leadership role, have those data centres here under our laws, our regulations, and in areas that they’re appropriate.”
The second of two information sessions was scheduled for Wednesday night in the rural Cape Breton town of Lower River Inhabitants, N.S.
Tuesday’s session in D’Escousse, N.S., ran late as more than 200 people filled a community hall to hear from company officials.
Speakers asked about safeguards and environmental protections for the 18,600-square-metre data centre proposed for Point Tupper, N.S., which is expected to come online by the end of next year.
American tech company Anthropic has signed a 20-year lease for the centre that would draw 95 megawatts of electricity during its first phase, before a 325-megawatt expansion in 2028.
Everwind officials said residents raised valid concerns, adding that more consultations were expected.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2026.
Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press
