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Environment Minister Tim Halman says officials in his department are reviewing regulations and how they could be strengthened for data centre development, but the leader of the Official Opposition is accusing him of suggesting he’s listening while promising to do nothing.
Halman refused to provide specifics about what his department is considering when he was pressed for details by reporters on Thursday following a cabinet meeting.
“We’re looking at the art of the possible,” he said.
“This is an example, I think, of where government is listening and paying attention. We want to make sure Nova Scotians, I think, are comfortable with this. And I think for the most part they are.”
Since the announcement last month by EverWind Fuels about plans for an $8-billion data centre campus in Point Tupper N.S., and the intention to lease the first of two buildings to artificial intelligence giant Anthropic, reaction has been mixed.
While some people have welcomed the prospect of jobs in Richmond County and the economic development spinoffs from a project that is to be privately financed, others have expressed concerns about potential environmental impacts and data sovereignty.
Protests have been staged around the province.
As he has previously, Halman said on Thursday he believes existing regulations in the Environment Act are sufficient to address things such as water and power consumption for the project.Â
But the minister told reporters that he and members of his government are not “tone deaf” to the concerns they’re hearing from the public.
“We want Nova Scotians to be comfortable moving forward with this initiative.”
NDP Leader Claudia Chender speaks to reporters in Halifax. (Brian MacKay/CBC)
NDP Leader Claudia Chender accused Halman of “double speak” and said the government needs to do more to address concerns.
“Clearly they’re playing defence,” she told reporters.
“They understand that Nova Scotians are incredibly concerned about data centres and the lack of regulation.”
The first phase of the campus, which would see the 95-megawatt facility leased to Anthropic for 20 years, is set to be complete by the end of 2027. EverWind’s CFO told CBC News this week that project financing has closed for Phase 1. Phase 2 would see a data centre with the capacity for 325 megawatts constructed by the end of 2028.
Chender said those tight timelines make it even more important for the government to introduce legislation and regulations that would place a legal framework around data centre developments to ensure sufficient environmental protections.
Premier Tim Houston has previously said he’s open to some kind of binding agreement, but he’s not sure if it’s necessary.
“We are guided in this project by federal non-binding guidelines and a Facebook post from the premier,” said Chender.
“There is no one in this province who would agree that that is sufficient regulation.”
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