Those behind the proposed $10 billion EverWind data centre slated for Point Tupper faced tough questions at the province’s standing committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee.
The committee met on October 27 in Halifax.
One of the most direct exchanges, Tuesday, involved water.
Inverness MLA, Kyle MacQuarrie, questioned EverWind about its proposed use of up to 500,000 litres of water a day from the Landrie Lake Water Utility for cooling
The response directly addressed concerns being raised by users of the water supply who are worried about whether warm or contaminated water could eventually be returned to Landrie Lake.
EverWind Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, Matthew Tinari, said the proposed cooling system would operate as a closed loop. During most of the year, the water would simply circulate within the system. During hotter weather, additional water may be required for cooling.
But he was unequivocal about where the water would not go. “Under no circumstances is water going back into the lake”, said Tinari.
Instead, Tinari said that wastewater from the data centre cooling systems would be recycled through regular maintenance offsite.
When did the province first hear?
Opposition Leader, Claudia Chender asked Deputy Minister of Energy Stephen MacDonald when government officials became aware of a possible data centre.
MacDonald responded by saying they were made aware by EverWind while in discussions about the company’s hydrogen plans, “sometime in the first or second quarter” of 2026.
This puts the timeline somewhere in a span of six months, potentially as early as January.
MacDonald said the province had already been in regular contact with EverWind because of its green hydrogen plans; a project aimed at producing low carbon hydrogen and ammonia, and powered by the company’s wind projects.
During those discussions, officials learned the company was investigating a data centre, although they weren’t initially certain how serious or advanced the proposal was.
That timeline is significant because Premier Tim Houston had said publicly in June that data centres might be something for the future. He then softened his stance in September, with the company’s announcement following one month later, on October 16.
Public Engagement Sessions
EverWind has announced plans for the first two of it’s meetings to hear directly from the public. It has sessions planned for D’Escousse on November 3 and Lower River on November 4, with additional dates still to be announced.
