New Brunswick weighs 10 data centre bids as residents push back

Power sought by 10 projects, up to

900 megawatts

NB Power confirmed it has 10 applications from data centre projects that would need up to 900 megawatts, but will not name them all, saying they are confidential.

Publicly known proposals

• Beacon and VoltaGrid: 400 MW, $2 billion
• Faster Than Light: 375 MW, $2.7 billion
• Cross River: 50 MW requested

Known proposals include a $2-billion, 400-megawatt AI hub by Beacon Data Centers and VoltaGrid near Saint John, and a $2.7-billion, 375-megawatt plan by Faster Than Light; none has final approval.

Chris Watson of the Save Lorneville group in Saint John calls for a moratorium until the province has stronger rules, while the government drafts a policy framework.

And us?

Want their province to limit large data centres

64 %

Across Canada, 64 per cent say their province should limit large data centres, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll, while Ottawa promotes an AI data-centre buildout.