Anthropic has signed a lease for computing capacity at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia. The agreement marks the Claude maker’s first data centre deal in Canada.
It also links the company’s growing need for computing power with a major proposed energy and infrastructure project.
Energy developer EverWind plans to invest more than C$10 billion in a data centre campus and wind power projects across Nova Scotia.
The company says it will spend more than C$8 billion on the campus and C$2 billion on wind generation.
However, these are development plans, and the project still needs to move through technical, commercial and regulatory steps.
EverWind says the first 95-megawatt phase could begin operating in late 2027. A 325-megawatt expansion could follow in 2028.
What a large AI data centre needs
A data centre houses computer servers that store and process information. AI companies use specialized chips in these facilities to train models and answer user requests.
As AI services grow, companies need more computing capacity, along with reliable electricity, cooling, water and network connections.
The proposed Point Tupper campus would reach 420 megawatts if all planned phases proceed.
EverWind says the site would include battery storage and could reduce or pause its electricity use when the grid needs support.
It also says it will pay for electricity connections and upgrades caused by the project. These commitments matter because new infrastructure costs can otherwise affect local power systems and customers.
Water use is another key issue. Data centres need cooling to keep equipment within safe operating temperatures.
EverWind says its design will use closed-loop cooling, which recirculates water, and will require additional water during some hot, windless periods.
The company estimates average use of 100,000 litres per day in the first phase and 500,000 litres once the campus expands.
Those figures come from EverWind; local advocates say the project’s impact on water resources still needs clarification.
The Canadian Press reported that environmental groups have also questioned possible effects on groundwater and electricity bills.
Local benefits and open questions
EverWind forecasts about 2,000 construction positions and 215 permanent operating jobs across the data centre and wind projects.
It also proposes a community benefits program worth tens of millions of dollars. In addition, negotiations are underway with a First Nations consortium led by Membertou Development Corporation for a possible ownership stake in the campus.
Still, residents and opposition politicians have called for more public discussion and clearer safeguards.
They have questioned whether the project’s energy, water and community commitments will be enforceable.
Nova Scotia’s premier says existing approval processes will provide checks and balances. Global News reported that local town halls are being organized, while the county says the final design and building permit application are not yet complete.
Canada introduced national Responsible Data Centre Development Principles in September. They call for projects to protect ratepayers, limit water use, report local impacts and deliver lasting benefits.
Anthropic and EverWind have signed the principles. However, the federal framework complements local approvals; it does not replace them.
The federal government says communities and Indigenous rights holders should be involved in project decisions.
The lease gives Anthropic a foothold in Canada as demand for AI computing rises. For Nova Scotia, the proposal could bring investment, jobs and new energy infrastructure.
Its success will depend on whether developers can meet those goals while addressing local concerns with transparent, measurable commitments.
