In New Brunswick, Chris Watson has raised concerns regarding the development of data centres in his locality, particularly in Saint John. He was alarmed after reviewing recent correspondence from Opportunities New Brunswick, which revealed the existence of multiple proposals for data centres, some of them undisclosed to the public. Watson, a leading figure in the grassroots group Save Lorneville, expressed disappointment at the provincial government's lack of transparency—highlighting how vital information is not shared with the communities potentially affected by these projects.
Watson criticized the government's approach, stating it appears to be scrambling to manage an influx of data centre applications without sufficient regulations to safeguard local residents and the environment. NB Power, the province's Crown-owned electric utility, confirmed that there are ten applications from data centre projects seeking up to 900 megawatts of power. However, the utility has opted not to disclose the names of these projects since they are considered confidential, leading to frustration among concerned citizens.
The Liberal provincial government is promoting data centres as a means to spur economic growth through tax revenues, private-sector investments, and job creation. Yet, these developments are raising complex issues for municipal and provincial governments that are inundated with proposals for energy-intensive facilities. The size and power requirements of data centres can significantly vary, with some small-scale facilities resembling a refrigerator and others consuming energy comparable to that of a small city.
Currently, the New Brunswick government is formulating a policy framework for data centre development and recently sought public input on this initiative. Despite being billed as a potential economic boon, Watson and his community group are advocating for a moratorium on new data centre projects until robust policies are established to protect the local environment and inhabitants.
Among the notable proposed projects is a 400-megawatt data centre, part of a larger $2 billion artificial intelligence hub being developed by Beacon Data Centers and VoltaGrid. This venture has ignited considerable backlash from local residents, including Watson, who are worried about the environmental and social impacts of the facility. In addition to this, Fredericton-based Faster Than Light has recently announced a $2.7 billion plan for a 375-megawatt data centre. Another proposal from U.S.-based Cross River Infrastructure Partners has also come to light, which requests 50 megawatts for a large-scale data centre campus in the same industrial park as the Beacon project.
NB Power reiterated that not all applications would necessarily receive approval to connect to the power grid, and they emphasized the need for contractual arrangements to safeguard the grid and maintain customer rates amidst large-scale projects. Thomas Bateman, a political science professor at St. Thomas University, noted that public opposition is partly fueled by anxiety about artificial intelligence and the high energy requirements of data centres.
Recent polling by Angus Reid Institute indicated that a majority of Canadians, around 64%, believe provincial governments should limit the creation of large data centres. Only a small percentage would advocate for increased facilities, reflecting a national skepticism about such projects.
This hesitance contrasts with the federal Liberal government's agenda to promote data centres as part of its aspirations for digital sovereignty and the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies. While some provincial governments pursue new revenue opportunities through data centre developments, such as Bell Canada's $1.7-billion project outside Regina and Meta's $13-billion AI data centre in Alberta, notable pushback from local communities continues. In Eastern Canada, government responses have varied; Nova Scotia's Premier has indicated openness towards the sector, while Newfoundland and Labrador's energy minister views excess power sales as an option, and Quebec is looking to increase data centre rates significantly.
In summary, the discourse surrounding data centres in New Brunswick illustrates a significant tension between economic opportunity and community concerns, showcasing the emerging challenges that provincial and municipal governments face as they navigate this complex and rapidly evolving landscape.
