Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 23 hrs ago
Hundreds protest planned AI data centre across Nova Scotia
Hundreds protested across Nova Scotia on Saturday, with the largest rally outside Province House in Halifax.
EverWind Fuels plans a data centre in Point Tupper, Cape Breton, to support Anthropic’s chatbot, Claude.
The first phase is expected to come online in 2027 and use 95 megawatts of electricity, with a larger expansion planned for 2028.
Protesters raised concerns about water, power and environmental impacts, and one participant said Mi’kmaw consent had not been given.
EverWind says it plans to build wind turbines to supply power and reuse water from a nearby lake, while the province says the project must protect water, the environment and power rates.
The province has also pointed to the potential for a $10-billion investment.
An organizer wants the legislature to debate the project, but no decision on that request has been announced.
Hundreds of people protested across Nova Scotia on Saturday against proposed AI data centres.
The largest demonstration took place outside Province House in Halifax.
Protesters raised concerns about the projects’ effects on water, electricity, the environment and communities.
EverWind Fuels plans a data centre in Point Tupper to support Anthropic’s Claude chatbot.
EverWind and the province say the project must meet environmental and other guidelines, while the province cited a potential $10-billion investment.
- Who
- Hundreds of Nova Scotians protested. EverWind Fuels is proposing the data centre.
- What
- Demonstrations opposed the construction of AI data centres in the province.
- When
- Saturday, November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Across Nova Scotia, including Halifax, Kentville, Port Hawkesbury and Truro.
- Why
- Protesters cited concerns about water, electricity, the environment and community impacts.
Protesters
EverWind Fuels and the Nova Scotia government
Project impacts
Protesters
Protesters raised concerns about water, electricity, the environment and community health.
EverWind Fuels and the Nova Scotia government
EverWind and the province say the project can proceed only if it meets provincial and federal guidelines protecting water, the environment, power rates and capacity.
Whether to proceed
Protesters
Protesters called for the project to be stopped or for public debate and scrutiny.
EverWind Fuels and the Nova Scotia government
The province said the potential $10-billion investment is something to be open minded about.
EverWind held a public meeting in D'Escousse about the proposed project.
A public meeting was also held in Lower River Inhabitants.
Demonstrations opposing AI data centre construction took place across Nova Scotia.
EverWind plans to build the first phase of the Point Tupper data centre.
- Largest demonstration
- Province House, Halifax
- Protest locations
- Halifax, Kentville, Port Hawkesbury and Truro
- Kentville turnout
- About 200 people
- Port Hawkesbury turnout
- Roughly 150 people
- Planned first phase
- Cape Breton data centre expected to come online in 2027
3 sources
What people are saying
Nova Scotians deserve better than this
Right now, it's not a decision for him alone to make.
what's really important from our perspective is that there's measures in place to ensure that we're developing these projects responsibly