Canadian energy and infrastructure company EverWind has announced plans to invest more than C$10 billion (about US$7.07 billion or €6.29 billion) in Nova Scotia. The money will go into a large data centre campus and a set of onshore wind projects. The company says its long-planned green hydrogen and ammonia hub in the province stays on course.
EverWind announced the plan on Friday. It described the package as the largest privately funded investment in Nova Scotia’s history.
Key Takeaways
- Total investment: more than C$10 billion, including over C$8 billion for the data centre and C$2 billion for wind power.
- Data centre size: a planned 420 MW campus at EverWind’s existing Point Tupper industrial site.
- Timeline: construction of the first 95-MW phase is set to begin in late 2027, with a 325-MW expansion targeted for 2028. Both depend on commercial, technical and regulatory conditions.
- Anchor tenant: a long-term lease for the first phase has been signed with an unnamed frontier artificial intelligence developer.
- Jobs: about 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent operating positions.
- Hydrogen plans: the Point Tupper Green Fuels Project is unchanged.
How the C$10 Billion Will Be Spent?
EverWind expects to allocate more than C$8 billion to the data centre and about C$2 billion to wind generation. The data centre will sit at Point Tupper, which is also the planned home of a wind-powered green fuels facility.
The build will happen in two stages. The first phase is 95 MW, with construction expected to start in late 2027. A further 325 MW follows in 2028, bringing the campus to its full 420 MW. EverWind has attached conditions to both stages, saying they remain subject to commercial, technical and regulatory approvals. That caveat matters, since large digital infrastructure projects often shift as permits and grid studies move forward.
For the first phase, EverWind has signed a long-term lease with a frontier AI developer. The company has not named the tenant.
Four Wind Projects to Power Growth
The wind portion of the investment will support four projects in EverWind’s Nova Scotia portfolio: Bear Lake, Windy Ridge, Kmtnuk and Upper Afton. According to the company, the new generation will help meet rising industrial electricity demand, including the data centre’s own load.
Pairing generation with demand in this way is increasingly common as AI and cloud operators look for reliable, lower-carbon power close to where they build.
Jobs and Local Impact
Across the data centre and wind portfolio, EverWind expects the work to support about 2,000 construction jobs and 215 permanent operating roles.
Negotiations are also under way with a First Nations consortium led by Membertou Development Corporation. The talks concern an ownership stake in the data centre. EverWind says this is subject to agreements being completed, so it is not yet a done deal.
Protecting Electricity Customers and the Grid
Large data centres can strain power systems, and public concern about who pays for that is growing. EverWind says it will cover the electricity connection and network upgrade costs tied to the development, so those costs are not passed on to existing customers.
The campus is also planned to include several hundred megawatt-hours of battery storage. EverWind says it will be designed to reduce or stop drawing power from the grid when needed to help maintain system reliability.
Water Use and Cooling?
Water consumption is another common question around data centres. EverWind expects the first phase to use about 100,000 litres per day. At full capacity, that would rise to an average of 500,000 litres daily.
The planned cooling system is closed-loop. Air is the main method of removing heat, and water-assisted cooling is added during hotter weather.
Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Plans Stay in Place
EverWind says the new investment complements, rather than replaces, its existing plans at Point Tupper. The Point Tupper Green Fuels Project is fully permitted and received environmental assessment approval in 2023.
The site is designed to produce around 200,000 tonnes of green ammonia a year in its initial phase. A second phase is planned to add roughly 800,000 tonnes of annual production.
What to Watch Next?
Several things will decide how quickly this plan becomes reality: the regulatory approvals the company has flagged, the completion of the ownership agreement with the Membertou-led consortium, and whether construction starts on schedule in late 2027. The identity of the AI tenant, which EverWind has kept confidential, will also be closely watched.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is EverWind investing in Nova Scotia?
- EverWind plans to invest more than C$10 billion, with over C$8 billion for the data centre and C$2 billion for wind power.
How big will the EverWind data centre be?
- The planned campus is 420 MW, built in two phases of 95 MW and 325 MW.
Where will the data centre be built?
- At EverWind’s existing Point Tupper industrial site in Nova Scotia.
When will construction start?
- Construction of the first phase is set to begin in late 2027, with the expansion targeted for 2028. Both are subject to commercial, technical and regulatory conditions.
Which wind projects are included?
- Bear Lake, Windy Ridge, Kmtnuk and Upper Afton.
Will the green hydrogen project still go ahead?
- Yes. EverWind says its Point Tupper green hydrogen and ammonia plans remain unchanged.
