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Save Lorneville Nov 5 2026 signs

Lorneville residents still looking for answers about data centre

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The people of Lorneville are still looking for answers to their questions about a proposed data centre and natural gas power plant in the community.

A community engagement session was held Thursday night, and many in attendance were not satisfied with what they heard.

About 300 residents, city councillors and supporters gathered for what was initially planned as an open house information session organized by VoltaGrid and Beacon Data Centres.

The evening quickly became more of a town hall-style event, with various speakers and questions being put to representatives from Beacon, the provincial Department of the Environment and Local Government and other agencies and companies associated with the project.

Organizers said the VoltaGrid and Beacon representatives were hesitant to proceed with a town hall.

“They had no interest,” said resident Adam Wilkins. “They clearly set it up as an open house.”

Wilkins said he spoke to Joseph Shovlin, Beacon’s executive vice-president for origination, and asked how the company planned to connect with the hundreds of people in attendance.

“And he couldn’t answer that, which was basically the theme for the night,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins accused Beacon and VoltaGrid of hiding at various tables around the room and providing what he described as “B-S” answers.

“But when the lights and every media camera and everybody in the community inside and outside and people listening online ask one question so they (VoltaGrid and Beacon) can provide an answer to everybody, they could not do that.”

For many in attendance, it was an unacceptable result one year after a similar meeting.

Several times, Shovlin volunteered to answer a question put forth by the community.

But he was often unable to provide information and said many of the questions were “new.”

The reaction from the crowd would best be described as incredulous.

“We asked the same questions a year ago,” one person shouted.

Shovlin was told by organizers the meeting felt like an empty gesture if no answers could be provided after a year to get the answers.

“Why did you come here this evening without the clear answers?” Shovlin was asked.

Several members of Saint John common council were in attendance, including all seven new members elected in May, as well as Ward 1 Coun. Greg Norton.

Coun.-at-large Gina Hooley said she was grateful she was able to look at some of the information available at the meeting.

“There was a lot of information to be taken away during the session,” Hooley said.

She said the opposition to the project is not a surprise, and added part of the point of the evening was for people to submit questions that need to be answered.

“I hope that everybody took that opportunity to engage and have their voices heard.”

More to come…

Fundy Shores Mayor and Council

Fundy Shores proposes rules for future data centre development

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A small New Brunswick municipality is considering data centre rules to keep development decisions local.

Earlier this month, the municipality of Fundy Shores discussed introducing a zoning by-law amendment to its rural plan to regulate development.

Mayor Denny Cogswell said the move comes as council believes developments like these require community support.

“I think you can check all the boxes for the environmental impact assessments, but without the social license being part of that, then I feel like you are failing people in those communities,” he said.

Cogswell shared the same sentiment in a statement on behalf of the Fundy Shores council last month, when they joined the province’s opposition call for a moratorium on large-scale data centres in New Brunswick—prompted by residents’ concerns over a proposed $2 billion data centre in Saint John.

RELATED: Lorneville residents seek accountability on data centre impacts

RELATED: N.B. government rules out data centre ban, but plans limits on future development

Council said it is not opposed to development, noting their advocacy for nuclear expansion and opportunities associated with medical isotopes, but said the difference is that Fundy Shores has residents’ approval.

“We have worked to build that social license for nuclear through engagement, transparency, trust, and an ongoing relationship with our residents over the many years. That same standard must be applied to AI data centres,” read the statement.

Council also said the province should not be able to introduce a policy framework that overrides local planning decisions, or “allows large-scale developments to proceed over the objections of communities expected to host them.”

Cogswell added that the discovery of ten data centres interested in connecting to the province’s grid also prompted the measures.

George “Denny” Cogswell is the Mayor of Fundy Shores. PHOTO: Denny Cogswell/Submitted.

He explained that, as a small, relatively new municipality with limited infrastructure, much of its surrounding land is owned by the province or owned by outside agencies.

While no data centre has been proposed in the community, Cogswell said the municipality’s previous rural plan could have allowed one to be built in certain areas without requiring council approval.

According to council documents, the amendment would require any future proposal to seek council approval through a rezoning process, rather than being permitted under existing zoning rules in some areas. It would also temporarily prohibit new data centre development while the municipality finalizes its regulations.

“We are trying to put the power back on the community,” he said.

Prof says by-law change part of a ‘broader trend’

Toronto Metropolitan University communications associate professor Sibo Chen said Fundy Shores’ decision to introduce their own regulations is part of a “broader trend.”

Chen, who studies public discourse surrounding data centre controversies, said peer-reviewed research has shown the environmental impacts of data centres extend beyond their immediate surroundings, leading more neighbouring communities to feel they should have a voice in the decision-making process.

He added that opposition is also being fuelled by broader public skepticism toward large AI corporations and concerns that the economic benefits promised by these projects may be short-lived.

Sibo Chen is an associate professor in the school of professional communication at Toronto Metropolitan University. PHOTO: Sibo Chen/Submitted.

“I think people’s concern is that, say, what would happen if, say, the granting of the social license is a one-off thing?” he explained. “So, we gave our consent, and they are going to just build it, and we as local communities, we’ll lose the ability to actually continue to engage with the reality of living next to such a giant infrastructure.”

Chen said beyond pointing out potential economic benefits in terms of job creation and tax revenue, governments and proponents must translate those abstract economic figures into tangible, long-lasting benefits for residents.

Opponents of data centres praise initiative

In a statement, member of advocacy group Save Lorneville Chris Watson said he is glad to see Fundy Shores introduce regulations.

Watson explained much is still unknown about hyperscale data centres and their impact on nearby communities.

He states that through the Saint John process residents have learned that many city officials and councillors did not understand what a hyperscale data centre was, how one operates one or the scale of its potential impacts when they approved the rezoning.

Chris Watson is a resident of Lorneville and part of activist group Save Lorneville. PHOTO: Chris Watson/Submitted.

“It’s encouraging to see municipalities like Fundy Shores doing what municipalities should do: showing foresight, planning, and putting protections in place for residents before these developments arrive,” he wrote.

“Saint John, meanwhile, seems to have followed the same old approach: getting excited by talks of ‘billions’ in investment, invite the industry in, and worry about the consequences later for nearby residents.”

Municipality hosting public hearing before final decision

Fundy Shores’ proposed amendments have yet to be approved.

The town will host a public hearing session on Nov. 17 to get resident feedback.

Following the public hearing, Cogswell said they will complete three readings of the by-law, hoping to pass it during the first week of December, or by January at the latest.

Cogswell clarified that council is not opposed to Fundy Shores eventually hosting a data centre, but they believe the process should start with residents.

“We are saying, ‘let’s take a step backwards. Let’s pause for a little bit, gather all the information that we can, and then come back to do the assessments as needed,’ but also come back to the community before you do all that and find their views and feelings on it,” he said.  

If the amendment passes, Fundy Shores would be the first municipality in the province to officially create its own regulations for data centres.

data centre: 2008

Data centre critics cautiously optimistic about New Brunswick’s new policy framework

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Opponents of data centres in New Brunswick say they are “hopeful” about the province’s new development framework, but argue it should have been introduced sooner.

The province unveiled the policy framework last week, aimed at protecting electricity ratepayers, promoting the responsible use of energy and water, generating economic and community benefits, supporting environmental sustainability, and advancing Canadian data sovereignty and AI objectives as interest in data centres continues to grow across the country.

The policy, developed by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, also comes as Calgary-based Beacon AI and Texas-based VoltaGrid pursue plans for a 390-megawatt data centre in Saint John’s Spruce Lake Industrial Park. The project, announced in late 2025, remains under regulatory review.

The proposal sparked significant public opposition over concerns about its projected energy consumption and potential environmental and community impacts.

RELATED: Proposed AI data centre in Saint John faces scrutiny at open house

RELATED: Lorneville residents seek accountability on data centre impacts

RELATED: Expert questions accuracy of air quality review for $2B data centre project

In a statement, activist group Resist Data Centre NB said it’s glad to see guidelines introduced, but believes they should have been in place before projects were proposed.

“This policy should have existed before any data centres were on the table for New Brunswick, and [this] demonstrates why us, the Greens, and many others are asking for a moratorium,” wrote the group in a statement. “These projects are moving ahead of policy and regulations. Lorneville is the perfect example.”

The policy must still be approved by the legislature, and the province is seeking public feedback before making any revisions ahead of debate during the fall legislative session.

The group believes the province already has the feedback that it needs from the thousands of people who joined their protests against data centres.

Resist Data Centres said that while the framework makes them hopeful, the proposed policy still leaves them with many questions.

The group also said it wants the final policy to include clear definitions and meaningful protections for New Brunswickers, with measurable standards, numerical thresholds, and consequences for non-compliance.

Saint John mayor welcomes policy

Like Resist Data Centres NB, Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon agreed that having provincial guidelines in place before the proposed Lorneville data centre would have been helpful. But said she is glad to see the policy framework come forward, adding that provincial leadership was needed as data centres become an increasingly prominent issue across the country.

“I’m seeing small towns, municipalities, big and small, trying to create a path forward, to put a moratorium, not put a moratorium, like nobody is really equipped or knows what to do in these situations,” she said. “I think we needed the leadership, so I was happy to see it.”

While Reardon said she is content with she’s seen so far, she said she would like to seek further clarification on what community benefits will look like.

Under the proposed policy, proponents would be required to clearly outline the benefits they plan to provide and explain how those commitments would be measured and evaluated. Those benefits could include commitments related to employment, training, infrastructure, community services, among others.

Reardon said she wants to determine whether proponents will be expected or required to contribute to the community beyond economic development, such as by investing in public spaces, supporting arts and culture initiatives, or providing other community benefits, adding that she believes industry should play a role in supporting the city.

Donna Reardon. PHOTO: Alex Allan/Acadia Broadcasting

“Industry can bring noise, dust, dirt and lighting, and it can bring trains and whistles and emissions, but it also brings jobs, and so you need to balance that,” she said. “It would be nice to balance that with a contribution to the betterment and development of the community that they decide to settle in.”

Although she said questions remain, Reardon believes the proposed framework addresses many of the concerns raised by residents and could help protect communities.

“I think with the province putting in all these measurables and key points in this policy framework, I think it helps to do that, in combination with the environmental impact assessment as well,” she said.

Reardon said she is looking forward to seeing how the policy develops. She added that her council will also inquire about potential rules or regulations around property tax.

Residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the policy until Oct. 2 through a consultation website.

The province is also holding preliminary stakeholder consultations and said any legislative or regulatory changes will begin during the 2026-27 legislative session.

data centre: 2008

Province unveils draft policy for future data centre development, seeks public feedback

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The province is seeking feedback on a proposed policy framework designed to guide data centre development in New Brunswick.

According to a press release, the provincial government designed the framework to protect electricity ratepayers, support responsible use of resources, generate measurable economic and community benefits, promote environmental sustainability, and advance Canadian data sovereignty and artificial intelligence objectives.

The policy guidelines focus on five areas:

  • Protecting ratepayers: Any new data centre must pay for the costs it creates and cannot lead to higher electricity rates for New Brunswickers.
  • Sustainable development: Data centres must be designed to minimize impacts on the environment, water, land and local infrastructure, while also promoting the responsible use of resources.
  • Economic benefits: Projects will be assessed on the economic benefits they bring to the province, including new investments, job creation, workforce training, innovation and opportunities for local and indigenous businesses.
  • Long-term impact: The government will prioritize projects that are technically and financially sound, deliver long-term benefits, and align with provincial and national priorities, including data sovereignty and artificial intelligence growth.
  • Community engagement and benefits: The government will require “meaningful engagement with local governments, First Nations and communities throughout the development process. Transparency, accountability, and measurable community benefits will be key considerations in evaluating and approving projects.

To support consistent implementation, the government will also establish and maintain a governance framework to oversee the assessment, review, and prioritization of data centre proposals and ensure alignment with provincial strategic, economic and fiscal objectives.

Under the framework, a data centre proposal will receive a positive recommendation only if it meets each core criterion.

Where multiple qualifying proposals compete for limited electricity or infrastructure capacity, preference will be given to proposals demonstrating greater overall community benefit and economic value.

Colocation customers — businesses that rent physical space in an external data centre to store their own servers and computer hardware — are not subject to the policy.

However, the province said it may consider future measures to encourage strategic economic, innovation, workforce, and research benefits associated with major data centre users within New Brunswick.

People can share their thoughts until October 2 through a consultation website.

The province added that preliminary stakeholder consultations are underway, and any required legislative or regulatory changes will begin during the 2026-27 legislative session.

You can read the full policy framework here.

Mike Schreiner Aug 6 2026

Ontario Green Party seeks moratorium on new AI data centres

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Ontario’s Green Party is trying to put the brakes on new data centres.

It is calling for a moratorium on new centres until the provincial government has properly conducted studies on their effects on the environment, energy, health and jobs.

Most new centres are planned for southern Ontario, but some northwestern Ontario communities are being considered for possible sites in the future.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner says they are popping up with little to no community consultation.

“Municipalities are on their own trying to protect their communities,” says Schreiner.

“The Ford government has not yet put proper safeguards in place to ensure that these data centers will not harm our communities, and that any benefits are for community members and workers.”

He adds there are serious concerns about the centres and the risks they pose to the air and water and the amount of energy they consume.

Schreiner points out that many are built by American technology firms.

“We need to ensure that people are not on the hook for higher energy bills and that these facilities do not increase the use of fossil fuels and increase toxic air pollution,” says Schreiner.

“And we need to protect the people and places we love from air, water, and noise pollution.”

Energy Minister Stephen Lecce stated last month that the province already has safeguards in place to ensure that ratepayers are protected from higher electricity costs caused by the high-consuming centres.

He also indicated that projects would be rejected if they were not in the best interests of the province.

Schreiner says until he sees the regulations, new centres need to be stopped.

Because the bottom line is, if we don’t do it now, then the horse will have left the barn, the train will have left the station, and it’ll be too late to act.”

Chris Watson headshot

N.B. government rules out data centre ban, but plans limits on future development

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After waiting for more than a year, opponents of a proposed data centre in the Spruce Lake Industrial Park finally met with Premier Susan Holt to discuss their objections to the project.

However, activists said the government remains unwilling to consider a moratorium on data centres in the province.

Chris Watson, Lorneville resident and member of the activist group Save Lorneville, said the group met with Premier Holt and Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage two weeks ago.

He said that while they felt heard during the meeting, it was disappointing that the premier and minister were not willing to “seriously” consider the proposal.

Watson said that the motion introduced by Green MLA Megan Mitton on June 11 raised important questions about the rules and regulations for the proposed project, revolving around modernized and enforceable standards that dictate where this type of development can be safely sited, how it can be powered, and how Lorneville is legally protected before this project is built.

The motion was introduced during the final hour of the legislative session, but with time running out, the Liberal government declined Mitton’s request to hold a vote on the proposal.

In a post on social media, Mitton said that with the legislature adjourning on June 12 for the summer, the motion will die without a vote when the legislature returns for a new session in the fall.

Over the past year, activists and residents have questioned the facility’s energy demands, the potential air and noise pollution, and the loss of old forest in the area if the development moves forward.

RELATED: Activists call for province-wide moratorium on AI data centres

RELATED: Lorneville residents seek accountability on data centre impacts

RELATED: Proposed AI data centre in Saint John faces scrutiny at open house

“We view these as very serious health and quality of life concerns for our community and cost of living concerns for all New Brunswickers,” Watson said. “So, we are hoping for a serious discussion around that.”

The project was proposed by Texas-based VoltaGrid and Calgary-based Beacon AI Centres last year, following Saint John’s council decision to rezone a 120-hectare piece of land as part of the Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion.

The companies submitted an environmental review assessment (EIA) in April, which indicated the development would require 390 megawatts of energy to operate.

To meet those power demands, the companies plan to build a gas-fired generating station capable of supplying 190 megawatts, with the remaining 200 megawatts expected to come from the NB Power grid.

With NB Power already facing pressure on its infrastructure, residents have raised concerns that the development could contribute to future rate increases.

According to the EIA documents, the gas plant would also release about 755,187 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year, making it one of the province’s largest industrial emitters.

Province addressing infrastructure concerns behind the scenes

Watson said despite the potential effects of the data centre, Premier Holt said the legislature is not the place for these types of discussions.

According to Watson, Holt said the province is pursuing these talks behind the scenes.

Acadia Broadcasting requested an interview with Minister LePage, but instead the department provided a statement.

Spokesperson Jennifer MacNeil said the government respects the questions and views expressed related to the project in Lorneville, but at this time there are no plans to ban data centres.

“These centres are essential to Canada’s future, especially in supporting data sovereignty,” McNeil said.

However, McNeil said there will be limitations in the number of data centres in the province, in virtue of their high energy needs.

“Data centres will be need to be designed and operated in a manner that does not put additional pressure on the electricity grid or rate payers,” she added.

According to McNeil a significant portion of New Brunswick’s data is being stored outside of Canada. She said the province needs to develop infrastructure to protect its information internally.

Watson said it’s frustrating to learn the government is having these conversations outside the public eye.

“We have no idea what those conversations would actually look like,” he said. “We asked to be involved in these conversations because our community has concerns where we are the ones absorbing the risk of this new type of development.”

Questions raised over New Brunswick’s regulatory framework

Watson added that the province assured them that it has “robust” frameworks in place to address their concerns, including the technical review process for the EIA documents.

McNeil clarified in the statement that the technical review process is led by these frameworks and is also supported by a Technical Review Committee comprised by subject-matter experts and specialists from provincial, federal, and local governments.

She said the committee’s role is to ensure all potential impacts including but not limited to potential impacts to local water quality and quantity (including private wells), greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, species at risk, ecosystems, wetlands and aquatic and terrestrial habitats, wastewater effluent, lighting, noise, human health and the local community — among others — are thoroughly examined and appropriately addressed.

Watson said the province told them the technical review committee had completed its first round of comments and is now awaiting a response from the proponent. The response will be made public once it is available.

However, he remains skeptical that New Brunswick has the regulatory framework needed to oversee a project of this scale.

He pointed to outdated air quality regulations, a lack of rules governing acoustic modelling, and the presence of old-growth forest in the province, noting that the assessment is relying on protocols and regulations from other provinces.

RELATED: Expert questions accuracy of air quality review for $2B data centre project

“This government appears to be ready to make this irreversible infrastructure decision before they actually have the rules in place that would govern this infrastructure,” he said.

However, Watson said the province promised to look into some of the issues they raised, including loss of wetlands, wildfire-mitigation functions, and increased communication and involvement in the EIA process.

The group particularly requested an in-person consultation session for the EIA documents involving the proponents and the Department of Environment, which Watson said the province also promised to address.

“We’ll see what comes from that,” Watson said. “Whether their concerns are genuine or not remains to be seen, but we’ll certainly keep pushing and follow up on our requests.”

The proposed data centre is currently under regulatory review. McNeil said a decision on the project will not be made until all relevant technical issues are addressed.

If approved, construction could begin later this year, with operations expected to start in 2028.