Cape Breton residents question EverWind AI data centre plans and environmental safeguards

More than 200 residents gathered at a community hall in D’Escousse, Cape Breton, to hear EverWind Fuels present its plan for an 18,600‑square‑metre AI data centre in Point Tupper, slated to start operations by the end of 2027. The centre, which will be leased for 20 years by U.S. AI company Anthropic, is expected to draw 95 megawatts of power initially, with a 325‑megawatt expansion planned for mid‑2028, raising total demand to 420 megawatts.

Attendees questioned EverWind about environmental protections, including the projected use of roughly 100,000 litres of water per day from nearby Landrie Lake in the first phase, rising to about 500,000 litres after expansion, and asked whether an independent environmental assessment would be conducted. They also sought clarification on consultation with Indigenous communities, noting the company’s reference to Mi’kmaq ownership of some wind projects.

EverWind officials responded that the existing industrial approval process would safeguard the environment and that additional community engagement was planned, with a second information session scheduled for the following night. The company highlighted economic benefits, estimating $2.4 billion in construction spending, $1.5 billion in provincial corporate tax and $110 million in municipal property tax over 20 years, alongside 215 permanent jobs and 2,000 temporary construction jobs.