New Brunswick faces backlash as multiple high-power data-centre proposals spark policy scramble

Activist Chris Watson, leading the Save Lorneville group, discovered a fresh data-centre application in Saint John while reviewing documents from Opportunities New Brunswick, underscoring the province’s lack of public disclosure on energy-intensive projects. NB Power has received ten submissions that may require as much as 900 megawatts, yet it keeps the list confidential. The Liberal administration views the centres as a source of tax revenue, jobs and growth, and is drafting a policy framework after seeking public input.

Known projects include a $2 billion AI hub by Beacon Data Centers and VoltaGrid, a $2.7 billion Faster Than Light proposal, and a Cross River Infrastructure request for 50 MW in the same industrial park. Critics like political-science professor Thomas Bateman cite fears over AI and massive power consumption, while an Angus Reid poll shows 64 % of Canadians favor limits on large data-centre development. The controversy reflects broader tensions between provincial ambitions and community/environmental concerns across Canada.