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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…

ECMWF data centre, Bologna, Italy, September 2021

Leaked email reveals second proposed data centre project in Saint John

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A second data centre project could be headed to Saint John, according to a leaked email that shows a Connecticut-based infrastructure company is exploring plans for an expandable campus in one of the city’s industrial park.

Infrastructure development company Cross River Infrastructure Partner is behind the development.

The email was sent in late April by Cross River managing director Rishi Jain to Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) Minister Luke Randall.

In the email, Jain said the project would start with a request for 50 megawatts of network-firm power service under the Large Industrial Tariff, with future expansion opportunities “that could incorporate grid responsive capacity and further economic development over time.”

“Our proposal is designed to align with planned systems upgrades in the Saint John region and to provide a practical, phased pathway for new industrial growth, electricity revenues, employment creation, and long-term tax benefits for the province,” he wrote.

Jain said the proposal would be located in Saint John Industrial Park, but did not specify which of the city’s three industrial parks was being considered for the development.

Member of activist group Save Lorneville Chris Watson shared the email on social media, which he said he obtained from a right of information request he sent to ONB.

Activist Chris Watson shared this email on Facebook. PHOTO: Chris Watson/Submitted with permission

The province already has a 390-megawatt data centre proposed in Saint John, at the Spruce Lake Park Industrial.

The proponents are Texas-based VoltaGrid and Calgary-based Beacon AI. The project is still under regulatory review, but since its announcement, it has received significant public pushback over concerns about its projected energy consumption and potential environmental and community impacts.

RELATED: Lorneville residents seek accountability on data centre impacts

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

In an email statement to Acadia Broadcasting, Randall said the province is aware of the proposal, but as with any potential investment, “discussions with a company do not necessarily mean that a project has been approved or that a decision has been made to proceed.”

Randall explained that the government speaks with companies regularly about potential investment and development opportunities in New Brunswick, and said these conversations are important to understand the interest that exists in the province and the opportunities that may arise.

“Any proposed development would be subject to the appropriate provincial processes and applicable requirements,” he added. “Government will continue to engage with proponents as appropriate while assessing potential opportunities for investment and economic development in New Brunswick.

Acadia Broadcasting asked ONB for an update on the status of discussions between the province and the proponent regarding the proposed development, but the organization did not provide a response.

In an email statement, the City of Saint John confirmed it was aware of the project and said it received preliminary inquiries and correspondence from Cross River, but was not aware of any further updates regarding the proposal at this time.

Instead, the city deferred comment to ONB.

If Cross River moves forward with the proposal, this would not be its first project in New Brunswick.

In 2022, the infrastructure development company reached an agreement with the Belledune Port Authority to develop a 200-megawatt green hydrogen production facility in the port.

RELATED: Port Of Belledune Announces Plans For Green Hydrogen Plant

According to a press release on Cross River’s website, the development would support clean energy transition goals at the provincial, federal, and global levels, while helping the port diversify its business and attract new industries.

Beyond its initial announcement, no updates have been given about the project, but the release said that, pending feasibility studies and permits, the plant could start operating as early as 2027.

Acadia Broadcasting sent several emails to Cross River, but the company has not responded to requests for comments.

Judge hammer

Court to hear challenge of Saint John industrial park rezoning

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A group opposing a proposed data centre in Lorneville will face the City of Saint John in court this week.

Save Lorneville’s judicial review of Saint John council’s July 2025 decision to rezone land at the Spruce Lake Industrial Park will be heard in New Brunswick’s Court of King’s Bench on Sept. 1 and 2, at 9:30 a.m. on both days.

Members of the group, formed in 2024 to oppose the rezoning, Chris Watson, Adam Wilkins and Shayne Galbraith filed the lawsuit in October 2025.

According to court documents, the applicants are asking for a judge to reverse council’s decision.

The plantiff’s allege there is a breach in procedural fairness because one or more councillors had a “closed mind” when they approached the statutory hearing, such that refusal of the expansion was no longer genuinely on the table.

Applicants also argue that the decision was unreasonable because the rationale didn’t reasonably apply key requirements of Saint John’s Municipal plan policy LU-4.

Those requirements include demonstrating the need for industrial land, avoiding negative impacts of neighboring communities and adequately mitigating significant environmental impacts.

In July last year, council voted to rezone more than 500 hectares of land in the Lorneville area to expand the industrial park and create development ready spaces for new clients.

The first major project associated with the expansion is the Beacon AI and VoltaGrids proposed 390 MW data centre, currently under provincial environmental impact assessment review process.

In the review court will look at the information council had when they made the decision, which the record amounts to over 7,000 pages long.

In an interview with Acadia Broadcasting in late July, Chris Watson said is unfortunate that things had to come to this point.

“It’s unfortunate that this evolved as it did, and I guess it’s unfortunate that we have to do this and it’s unfortunate that in a way we have to we do have a good case, but I guess that’s where we are at,” he said.

Watson added they have over 1,000 pages in evidence, along with numerous audios and video recordings, which he said took a significant amount of effort and time to compile.

In preparation for the hearing, the group submitted their pre-hearing briefing in late July, which they later made public via social media two weeks ago, and it amounts to over 30 pages.

Save Lorneville is not asking for reimbursement of their legal fees, but the city is.

Watson said he wasn’t surprised that they are pursing costs, but did not comment further on the matter.

However, he explained that Save Lorneville decided to not pursue legal fees because they view the case as a “strong public interest case,” and is asking the court for each side to pay their legal fees.

“We think that’s the right way to go,” he said.

The City of Saint John is being represented by Jonathan O’Kane, a lawyer with Stewart McKelvey.

In an email statement, the city said they respect the judicial review process and the right of individuals and community groups to seek judicial review of municipal decisions, but as the matter is before the courts, they won’t be providing further comment.

Sarah Nelson headshot

‘It doesn’t belong here’: Data centre opponents push boycott of Saint John festival

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Opponents of a proposed data centre are urging residents to boycott part of a Saint John summer festival.

Advocacy group Resist Data Centre NB is encouraging people to avoid Canadian rapper k-os’ performance at the Moonlight Bazaar’s Energy Stage, sponsored by Texas-based company VoltaGrid.

Group member Sarah Nelson clarified that the group is not discouraging residents from supporting the local vendors taking part in the event, but the satellite bars and any other activity that will generate profit for Moonlight.

“We support local [business]; obviously, we are locals,” she said. “We don’t support an American company that wants to prey on the small community of Lorneville. That’s our main focus.”

Last year, VoltaGrid and Calgary-based company Beacon AI proposed a hyperscale data centre at the Spruce Lake Industrial Park, following Saint John council’s decision to rezone a 120-hectare piece of land as part of the park’s expansion.

The $2 billion project has incited significant public criticism due to concerns over its potential environmental effects, noise pollution, loss of old-growth forest, and its significant energy requirements, which might further strain the province’s grid and increase energy rates for residents.

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

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

Nelson said the group believes the festival shouldn’t be making money off the community, “if it doesn’t stand up for the community.”

She said they are urging residents to support local businesses and vendors year-round instead of just one night.

“Whether people decide to go to Moonlight or not, is kind of a personal choice,” Nelson added. “But we just want to make clear that anybody that aligns with our views and is opposing the data centres should not attend Moonlight Baazar.”

With this campaign, Nelson said the group also wants to show the province that New Brunswick and Saint John are not for sale.

“The message that we want to send is that this [development] will be a parasite that does not benefit the local community in any way,” she added. “It’s not a necessary evil of industrial or technological advancement. It doesn’t belong here.”

Another activist group, Save Lorneville, also issued a statement regarding VoltaGrid’s involvement in the festival.

“VoltaGrid was a deeply unfortunate choice of sponsor by the Moonlight Bazaar organizers,” said the organization in the statement. “That decision has cast a shadow over an otherwise popular annual event and distracted from the fun, local businesses and community spirit that the Moonlight Bazaar is meant to celebrate.”

While the group also encouraged people to skip k-os’ performance, it urged residents to act peacefully and respectfully and not interfere with the safety or enjoyment of others.

Acadia Broadcasting requested an interview with the organizers of Moonlight, but the organization declined and instead provided a statement.

In the statement, the organizers said they were “deeply saddened” to hear that some members of the community were planning to boycott this year’s event.

“We are grateful to the local vendors who bring the event to life, and the many community partners and sponsors who make the event free every year,” wrote the organizers. “We would not be here today without the generous support we’ve received from these businesses, and we fully believe that the 2026 event will be everything we promised.”

In an email statement VoltaGrid president and CEO Nathan Ough said boycotting Moonlight Bazaar hurts Saint John’s local businesses more than it hurts his company.

“I struggle to understand the rationale behind harming local businesses because of disagreements over a single project,” he wrote.

Voltagrid Nathan Ough (Image: submitted to Insights)
VoltaGrid’s Nathan Ough (Image: submitted to Insights)

Ough believes Saint John needs economic development to create long-term opportunities for all residents, and grow the city’s tax base, create jobs and strengthen its local economy.

He said the proposed data centre presents the opportunity to put Saint John in the map as a destination for responsible economic development “that balances social, environmental, and economic development.”

Ough added that VoltaGrid wants to invest in the community through grants, sponsorships, local initiatives, and direct employment opportunities.

According to him, the company has already received more than 300 job applications from Saint John residents, along with interest from more than 25 local businesses that want to supply products and services to the project.

“I’m doing everything I can to help move Saint John forward so that we can build a stronger long-term economic future for our community,” he said. “My hope is simply that we can have a balanced, constructive conversation about how to make this project a benefit for everyone, rather than approaching it from positions of absolute agreement or disagreement.”

Moonlight Bazaar is an annual outdoor festival that brings together music, food, art, and creative performances beneath a giant, inflated moon.

The event will take place on July 18 in Uptown Saint John, at the intersection of Grannan Lane and Canterbury Street, from 4 p.m. to midnight.

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.

Data centre protest

Activists call for province-wide moratorium on AI data centres

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About 150 people attended a protest calling for a provincial moratorium for data centres in New Brunswick.

The demonstration, organized by advocacy groups Save Lorneville and Resist Data Centres NB, took place in front of the legislative assembly on Thursday.

Protest organizer and Resist Data Centres NB member Sarah Nelson said the issue concerns everyone in the province.

“Our message is that we don’t want this anywhere — not just in our backyard, but in nobody’s backyard,” she said. “This isn’t something that should exist anywhere in this hyperscale way, exploiting communities.”

The group’s first protest took place in Saint John on May 9, and was opposing a proposed data centre near Spruce Lake, pitched by Texas-based company VoltaGrid LLC and Calgary-based Beacon AI Centres.

Nelson said the groups took to the streets again to ask the government for answers and to call for a provincial moratorium on data centres.

The data centre is the first proposed project for the industrial park’s expansion and, if given final approval, could be operational by 2028.

RELATED: Lorneville residents seek accountability on data centre impacts

RELATED: Lorneville residents concerned about industrial park expansion

The development would be built on a 120-hectare parcel of land within an expanded Spruce Lake Industrial Park. According to a recent environmental impact assessment (EIA) filed with the province, it would be the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide in New Brunswick.

The centre would require 390 megawatts of energy, with 190 megawatts supplied by a gas plant to be built alongside the project. The remaining 200 megawatts would come from the province’s grid, according to EIA documents.

Nelson said the groups are concerned about the project’s environmental impact, particularly its energy requirements, which they believe will increase electricity rates for New Brunswickers.

New Brunswick’s grid “is already strained,” Nelson said. “For a lot of people, this is about their families, their finances and the environment.”

For Nelson, the scale of the project feels predatory for a small community like Lorneville.

She said the community would like more open dialogue with the province about the proposed development, adding that many of the conversations around it “have been shrouded in secrecy.”

“A lot of people feel like it was swept under the rug,” she said. “I think we would be hearing a different tune today, or Lorneville would be singing a different tune, if they had been consulted.”

The protest took place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other groups, including representatives of the Wolastoqey Nation, Green Party Leader David Coon and Green Party Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton, also attended.

Grand Chief of the Wolastoq Grand Council Ron Tremblay spoke at the protest, alongside Coon and Mitton.