Anthropic’s 1st Canadian Data Centre Lease is With EverWind

EverWind, a Canadian company that works in clean fuels and wind energy, will build a 420MW data centre to support AI and digital services. Trent Vichie, EverWind’s Founder and CEO, calls the investment a new chapter.

EverWind is investing more than CAD10bn (US$7.1bn) in a new data centre campus and renewable energy projects in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia.

More than CAD8bn (US$5.68bn) of the total CAD10bn investment will go toward the data centre campus. The remaining CAD2bn (US$1.42bn) will be used to expand EverWind’s onshore wind energy projects in Nova Scotia.

Anthropic has signed a long-term lease for the first 95MW phase of the data centre project.

“Anthropic has signed a lease with EverWind for data centre capacity at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia,” says Jacob Glick, Anthropic’s Head of Public Policy in Canada, in a LinkedIn post.

“It's our first data centre lease in Canada.

“Canadians use Claude at some of the highest rates in the world, and this brings our infrastructure closer to the people who rely on it.

The first phase is expected to be finished in late 2027. Another 325MW is planned to become operational in 2028. The schedule for both phases depends on business agreements, technical requirements and regulatory approval.

Managing electricity and grid demand

To make sure the project does not raise electricity prices for existing customers, the campus will include battery storage that can hold several hundred MWh of electricity.

This battery storage will help manage demand on Nova Scotia’s electricity grid while supplying power to the facility.

The data centre will be designed to use less electricity from the grid, or stop drawing power from it, during times of peak demand. This will help keep the electricity system reliable.

EverWind will pay all costs for electricity network upgrades and connections that are needed because of the campus.

“Point Tupper has supported industry in the Strait Region for more than 50 years,” says Trent Vichie, Founder and CEO of EverWind.

“Today’s announcement means a major new investment in Nova Scotia’s digital and energy infrastructure. It also shows how people in Nova Scotia can help Canada reach its renewed economic goals. This marks a new chapter for the site and creates opportunities for people in rural Nova Scotia.

“For decades, people from Nova Scotia have helped build major projects across Canada, often having to leave home to find well-paying jobs.

“With this investment, we’re creating more opportunities for people to find jobs and build their careers at home in rural Nova Scotia.”

EverWind plans to use its combined investment in wind energy and battery storage to help bring more renewable energy into the wider energy system.

These energy resources will also support the company’s existing plans to produce green hydrogen and ammonia at the site.

Environmental and water protection

The Point Tupper facility will use a closed-loop cooling system that circulates a mixture of water and glycol to help cool the equipment.

The system will mainly remove heat using air, with water used to help cool the facility only during the hottest periods. The data centre is expected to use an average of about 100,000 litres of water per day during the first phase. This will rise to about 500,000 litres per day when the full 420MW facility is complete.

Nova Scotia’s cool climate naturally reduces the amount of water needed to cool the digital equipment during much of the year.

“Responsible development means protecting people who pay electricity bills, protecting local water resources and delivering lasting benefits for communities,” says Trent.

“We applaud the federal and provincial governments for setting high standards for responsible development, and we will continue to work with communities to ensure that our work meets their expectations.

“People in Nova Scotia should expect us to show that we can protect electricity customers, safeguard local resources and provide lasting benefits to communities. We intend to be held accountable for these commitments.”

Anthropic’s Jacob shared similar views.

“Canada and Nova Scotia have both set a high bar for how data centres get built,” he adds.

“We've signed the federal Responsible Data Centre Development Principles, and we're committed to meeting Premier Houston's conditions: protecting electricity customers, safeguarding water and making sure people in Nova Scotia benefit.

“That includes committing tens of millions of dollars to community priorities, which local leaders and residents will help decide.”

Economic sovereignty and local investment

The project is the largest privately funded investment in Nova Scotia’s history and is expected to create many jobs.

“The investment includes a new data centre campus in Point Tupper and wind energy projects across Nova Scotia,” says Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, in a LinkedIn post.

“Together, these projects are expected to support approximately 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent jobs.

“That's thousands of opportunities for people in Nova Scotia to work on major projects right here at home.

“Of course, projects of this size must be developed responsibly. EverWind has committed to meeting the expectations of both the federal and provincial governments to protect electricity customers, safeguard local water resources and ensure communities share in the benefits. We will hold them to that.

“Nova Scotia has the people, the resources, and the potential to compete for major investments like this.”