Saint John residents have uncovered a second data centre proposal for their neighborhood. If you live near the Spruce Lake Industrial Park, you need to pay attention to the growing demand for local power. Chris Watson reviewed recent correspondence from Opportunities New Brunswick and found a new application for an energy intensive project.

Watson leads a grassroots community group called Save Lorneville. Over the past year, he organized citizen opposition to a major data centre project in his area. He obtained the new documents through right to information legislation.

“It is not surprising, but it is just deeply disappointing,” Watson said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Hidden Proposals and Power Grid Pressures

The newly discovered proposal comes from United States firm Cross River Infrastructure Partners. The company wrote to the Opportunities NB minister in April asking for 50 megawatts of power for a large scale data centre campus. This proposed site sits in the exact same industrial park as the highly debated Beacon Data Centers project.

You can see why these projects cause an uproar when you look at their size. The Beacon project is a two billion dollar artificial intelligence hub. It requires 400 megawatts of power and is currently under regulatory review. Residents pushed back against this project due to its massive energy requirements and environmental impact.

When you look at the provincial numbers, the scale becomes even clearer. NB Power confirmed it has 10 applications for data centre projects. Together, these facilities need up to 900 megawatts of power. The utility refuses to identify the projects on this list and claims the applications are confidential.

Government Goals Versus Citizen Concerns

The provincial government wants these facilities to generate economic growth. Officials point to tax revenue, private sector investment and job creation. The province is currently developing a policy framework for data centre development and recently asked the public for feedback.

Watson and his group want the government to impose a moratorium on new data centre projects. They demand stronger policies to protect residents and the environment before the province approves any applications.

Thomas Bateman is a political science professor at St. Thomas University in Fredericton. He notes that public opposition stems from anxiety about artificial intelligence and the massive energy required to run these facilities.

“They do not know if it is good or bad or if it is going to mean the end of civilization as we know it, or if it is going to cure cancer,” Bateman said.

Recent polling from the Angus Reid Institute shows a majority of Canadians share your neighbors’ concerns. The poll found 64 percent of Canadians want their provincial governments to limit the development of large data centres.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a data centre?

A data centre is a physical facility that organizations use to house their critical applications and data. They range in size from small rooms to massive hyperscale campuses that consume as much power as a small city.

Why are Saint John residents concerned about these projects?

Residents worry about the massive amount of electricity these facilities require. They also have concerns about the environmental impact and the lack of transparency from the government regarding new proposals.

How much power do the proposed New Brunswick data centres need?

NB Power currently has 10 confidential applications that require up to 900 megawatts of power. The known Beacon Data Centers project alone requires 400 megawatts.