A recent discovery by a Saint John resident reveals what you do not know about industrial developments in your own backyard. Chris Watson reviewed correspondence from Opportunities New Brunswick and found something alarming. After spending the past year leading citizen opposition to a major data centre project in his Saint John neighbourhood, he discovered another company wants to build an energy hungry facility in the area.

Watson obtained the documents through right to information legislation. The records show the provincial government entertains data centre proposals without sharing important information with the people most affected.

“It’s not surprising, but it’s just deeply disappointing,” Watson said in an interview highlighted by ConstructConnect.

Secret Proposals and Power Grid Pressures

NB Power confirms it has 10 applications for data centre projects. These facilities require up to 900 megawatts of power. The Crown owned utility refuses to identify the projects and claims the applications are confidential. A spokesperson declined to confirm if publicly known projects are on this list.

The Liberal provincial government views these plants as economic growth drivers. Officials point to tax revenue, private sector investment and job creation. The government is currently developing a policy framework for data centre development and recently sought public feedback.

Watson belongs to a grassroots community group called Save Lorneville. He says the government must impose a moratorium on new data centre projects until stronger policies protect residents, businesses and the environment.

Local Projects Spark Intense Backlash

None of the publicly known proposed data centres in New Brunswick have final approval. However, several massive projects are targeting the region.

A 400 megawatt data centre anchors a two billion dollar artificial intelligence hub proposed by Beacon Data Centers and VoltaGrid. This project will draw half its power from the grid and the rest from an onsite power plant. Billed as the first hyperscale artificial intelligence facility in Atlantic Canada, the project faces intense backlash from residents living near the Spruce Lake Industrial Park.

Earlier this month, Fredericton based Faster Than Light introduced a plan for a 375 megawatt data centre. Furthermore, Watson and his advocacy group discovered a proposal from United States firm Cross River Infrastructure Partners. This proposal targets the exact same Spruce Lake Industrial Park as the Beacon Data Centers project. Cross River Infrastructure asked the Opportunities New Brunswick minister for 50 megawatts of power for a large scale data centre campus.

National Anxiety Over Artificial Intelligence

Thomas Bateman is a political science professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton. He notes people oppose data centres because of anxiety about artificial intelligence.

“They don’t know if it’s good or bad or if it’s going to mean the end of civilization as we know it, or if its going to cure cancer,” Bateman said. He added the massive energy requirement is the other major point of contention.

A recent poll from the nonprofit Angus Reid Institute shows a majority of Canadians share these concerns. The survey found 64 percent of Canadians want their provincial governments to limit the development of large data centres. Less than one in five people encourage more development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Save Lorneville group demanding?

The grassroots community group wants the provincial government to impose a moratorium on new data centre projects until stronger policies are in place to protect residents and the environment.

How much power do the proposed data centres require?

NB Power has received 10 applications for data centre projects that require up to 900 megawatts of power. Individual projects like the Beacon Data Centers proposal require up to 400 megawatts.

Where are these data centres being proposed in Saint John?

Companies are targeting the Spruce Lake Industrial Park for these large scale data centre campuses.