Canadian energy developer EverWind has announced plans for more than C$10 billion in private investment in a 420-megawatt (MW) artificial intelligence data centre campus at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, and four onshore wind projects across the province. The proposed investment comprises more than C$8 billion for the data centre campus and C$2 billion to advance the company’s existing wind power portfolio.
The combined development is expected to support approximately 2,000 construction positions and 215 permanent operating positions across the data centre and wind projects, according to EverWind. The announcement also outlines plans for battery storage, measures to protect electricity ratepayers and local water resources, and a community benefits programme worth tens of millions of dollars.
The data centre is planned for EverWind’s existing industrial site at Point Tupper, where the company is also pursuing green hydrogen and ammonia developments. EverWind says its commitment to those projects remains unchanged, positioning the proposed campus alongside its wider energy transition portfolio.
The plans remain subject to applicable commercial, technical and regulatory conditions, including electricity-system studies and approvals. The initial data centre phase is targeted for late 2027, with an expansion planned for 2028.
Data Centre Development to Reach 420 MW in Phases
EverWind plans to develop the Point Tupper campus in two stages. The initial phase is expected to provide 95 MW of capacity in late 2027, followed by a planned 325 MW expansion targeted for 2028.
At full build-out, the 420 MW facility would expand domestic computing capacity for artificial intelligence and other digital services. EverWind says it has reached a long-term lease agreement with a leading frontier AI developer for the initial phase, although the customer has not been publicly identified in the supplied announcement.
The company estimates that the full data centre development could generate approximately C$2 billion in provincial gross domestic product during construction, including around C$2.4 billion in direct construction spending in Nova Scotia. At full operation, annual provincial GDP contributions are projected at approximately C$137 million.
EverWind also projects approximately C$1.5 billion in provincial corporate income tax over the initial 20-year term. These are company-reported projections, with the economic analysis attributed to Davis Pier, rather than realised economic outcomes.
C$2 Billion Wind Investment to Advance Four Projects
The projects are intended to add renewable electricity generation to the province’s supply and help meet rising industrial demand, including the proposed data centre’s electricity requirements.
The relationship between the wind portfolio and the campus will depend on project delivery, electricity procurement arrangements, grid integration and the timing of new generation capacity. The announcement does not specify the individual capacities or expected commissioning dates of the four wind projects.
The company also says the campus investment will include several hundred megawatt-hours of battery storage. The storage system is intended to support facility operations and help manage electricity demand, although its power rating, duration and operating strategy have not been disclosed.
EverWind Maintains Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Plans
The Point Tupper announcement adds a major proposed digital infrastructure development to EverWind’s existing plans for green hydrogen and ammonia production at the industrial site.
The company says its commitment to advancing the hydrogen and ammonia projects remains unchanged. The data centre, wind portfolio and proposed battery storage would create additional potential demand for electricity infrastructure and renewable generation across the province.
The combination of renewable electricity generation, energy storage and industrial infrastructure could provide opportunities to coordinate energy supply with demand from multiple sectors. The scale of those opportunities will depend on grid capacity, project economics, regulatory approvals and the sequencing of individual developments.
Electricity Grid Costs and Ratepayer Protection
EverWind has committed to funding electricity connection costs, network upgrades and other power-system expenses attributable to the development, with the stated objective of preventing project-related costs from being passed on to existing Nova Scotia electricity customers.
The company also says the data centre will be designed to reduce or temporarily stop drawing electricity from the grid when required to protect system reliability while maintaining operations.
Provincial system-planning and utility processes are assessing the development’s potential effects on grid reliability, system costs and other customer groups. EverWind says the planned expansion will not connect to the grid until the required studies and approvals have been completed.
These commitments are particularly relevant because large data centres can create substantial, concentrated electricity demand. Battery storage and flexible electricity consumption may help manage that demand, but their effectiveness will depend on the facility’s technical design and operating requirements.
The project therefore remains dependent not only on the construction of the campus and wind facilities but also on the ability of the electricity system to accommodate the additional load without compromising reliability.
Closed-Loop Cooling System Planned to Limit Water Use
EverWind says the data centre will use a closed-loop cooling system in which a water–glycol mixture circulates through sealed equipment rather than being routinely discharged. Heat will be removed primarily through air cooling, with water-assisted cooling used during the hottest weather.
EverWind compares the projected full-campus consumption with Landrie Lake’s identified safe yield of approximately 34 million litres per day, describing the campus requirement as roughly 1% of that figure.
The company says it will fund water infrastructure costs attributable to the development, comply with applicable requirements for water use, noise and emissions, and ensure that cooling fluid removed during maintenance is collected for recycling or appropriate off-site disposal rather than discharged into local waterways.
These figures are projections based on the current design, not verified operating data. Actual consumption will depend on weather, cooling technology, facility utilisation and the final campus configuration. Independent assessment of the water supply, environmental effects and competing community needs will be important as the project advances.
Community Benefits and Indigenous Participation
EverWind has proposed a community development programme worth tens of millions of dollars for the initial phase, with priorities to be developed in collaboration with local communities and the customer.
Potential areas of support include local infrastructure, recreation facilities, health and housing initiatives, workforce development and regional economic growth.
The company also projects more than C$400 million in municipal tax revenues over the respective lifetimes of the combined data centre and wind projects.
Separately, negotiations are underway with a First Nations consortium led by Membertou Development Corporation for an ownership stake in the data centre campus. The proposed participation remains subject to completion of the relevant agreements.
The announcement has received support from provincial and federal representatives, while Richmond County Warden Lois Landry has highlighted the importance of continued community engagement and resolving outstanding project details.
Chief Terry Paul of Membertou First Nation also welcomed the investment opportunity, emphasising Indigenous participation and responsible development.
EverWind has joined other project partners in signing the Government of Canada’s Responsible Data Centre Development Principles. The company says it intends to meet the expectations established by the federal government and the Province of Nova Scotia.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
EverWind’s proposed C$10 billion-plus investment illustrates how demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is increasingly intersecting with renewable electricity development. The project combines a large data centre campus with new onshore wind generation, battery storage and the company’s existing ambitions for green hydrogen and ammonia.
The development’s significance for the energy sector will depend on whether these investments can be coordinated to provide reliable electricity while managing costs, environmental impacts and competing demands on local infrastructure.
EverWind’s proposal is a significant planned investment at the intersection of digital infrastructure and renewable energy. Its longer-term industry relevance will depend on execution: securing approvals, delivering new generation and grid infrastructure, demonstrating credible water and ratepayer protections, and progressing its separate low-carbon fuel ambitions.
