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As artificial intelligence data centres pop up across North America, the energy-sucking facilities are not something Nova Scotia is “actively pursuing,” said Premier Tim Houston on Thursday.
Asked whether his government would ever consider approving such a project, Houston said the province’s current energy availability would be a limiting factor.
“This discussion’s so far in the future,” he told reporters following a cabinet meeting in Halifax.
“There wouldn’t be a commitment to a data centre unless we could fully supply the energy without any risk to Nova Scotians. We wouldn’t put Nova Scotians’ grid at risk and we wouldn’t put their health at risk.”
In Canada, there are five hyperscale data centres — massive, more advanced facilities powering the AI boom. But a recent York University study said there are 96 facilities with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more either proposed or under construction across the country.
Many of these projects have been the subject of large protests, as demonstrators express concerns about their potential environmental and health impacts.
While some provinces such as Alberta have been receptive to the idea of data centres, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew most recently turned down a large project pitched for south of Winnipeg.
In Saint John, two companies trying to build a data centre have said the facility wouldn’t use much water compared to other nearby industrial operations. The New Brunswick city has been touted as a “hidden gem” for AI.
Houston said talk of any data centres would be more appropriate once Nova Scotia has harnessed its energy potential through projects like the ambitious offshore wind plan, Wind West.
“It’s not a today thing, not even a tomorrow thing,” he said. “Might be in the future at some point.”
He said his government does not have an active file dedicated to data centres, and it does not have any proposals that it’s considering.
He said sometimes the topic comes up anecdotally, but not much beyond that.
“The world runs on data. There’s no question we’re all using more of it. We’ll continue to use more of it,” said Houston.
“We would have a complete evaluation of what can be done safely and what would be the benefit to Nova Scotians. That would be the criteria when that discussion happens.”
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