EverWind to build $10B AI data centre campus in Nova Scotia

A massive infrastructure play

EverWind Fuels is planning a $10 billion data centre campus located along the Strait of Canso in Cape Breton. The project is designed to position Nova Scotia as a key player in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence industry. This development is anchored by a 20-year lease with the AI giant Anthropic, the company behind Claude.ai.

The scale of the project is significant, aiming for a 420-megawatt capacity to meet the surging demand for computing power. As PNI Atlantic News reported, the company describes this as the largest privately funded infusion in the province's history. It serves as a major bet on the long-term growth of AI infrastructure in Canada and abroad.

To secure the investment, EverWind is leveraging its existing industrial site at Point Tupper. The location already has a grid connection, an industrial water supply, a deepwater port, and road access. By using previously developed land, the company intends to avoid the need for new greenfield construction.

Power and cooling logistics

One of the primary challenges for large-scale data centres is managing high energy and water consumption. EverWind plans to address this by supplying its own clean power and using Nova Scotia's naturally cool weather to assist with cooling. They intend to use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water usage significantly.

The company has publicly committed to ensuring that electricity and industrial water rates do not increase for existing customers because of the project. EverWind plans to cover all expenses for grid links, network improvements, and other power system costs tied to the facility. This is intended to protect local ratepayers from the costs of the new infrastructure.

The project will also be supported by a new renewable energy portfolio. This includes wind projects that will be majority owned by Mi’kmaw partners. These projects are designed to provide the renewable generation necessary to support the data centre's massive power requirements.

Economic impact for the region

The project is expected to generate nearly $137 million in annual GDP for Nova Scotia. This figure measures the new value created annually through the facility's operations, local supplier spending, and supported wages. The company also expects the project to generate approximately $2.4 billion in direct construction spending within the province.

Construction is expected to create about 2,000 jobs at its peak, primarily for skilled trades. Once the facility is operational, it will provide more than 200 permanent positions with salaries expected to range from $135,000 to $185,000 a year. These roles are intended to attract and retain high-level talent in rural Cape Breton.

Beyond direct employment, the project includes tens of millions of dollars in dedicated community benefit funding. It is also projected to bring in roughly $400 million in new municipal tax revenues. EverWind aims to use a strong local supply chain to ensure these economic benefits remain primarily within the province.

Timeline and next steps

EverWind is currently focused on securing long-lead electrical and cooling equipment to stay on schedule. The company does not anticipate significant obstacles to bringing the first phase of the development online by the end of 2027. They aim to have the full build-out completed by the following year.

Financing for the project will be structured to access the project debt market, with each phase being funded independently. EverWind and its Indigenous partners will provide the equity for the various projects. The 20-year lease with Anthropic provides the backing needed to access this necessary financing.

While the data centre is a near-term priority, EverWind is also pursuing long-term goals in the green hydrogen and ammonia markets. They are participating in auctions like the H2Global North American auction to sell green ammonia. The data centre helps maintain the momentum for the shared infrastructure that could eventually support these other markets as they develop.