Saint John residents question proposed AI data centre plan
Nov 6, 2026 · Summarized by Fundy Tech from 8 sources
Residents in Saint John are pushing back on a proposed data centre in the Spruce Lake Industrial Park. They want answers on water use, noise, power and community benefits.
Key points
- Beacon AI Centers and VoltaGrid plan a 120-hectare site.
- The project is expected to create over 200 permanent jobs.
- Residents raised concerns at a packed session in Lorneville.
The full story
Residents in Lorneville, near Saint John, pressed the co-founders of Beacon AI Centers and VoltaGrid at an information session on Wednesday night. The two companies want to build a data centre on a 120-hectare parcel in the Spruce Lake Industrial Park, which was approved for expansion in July despite strong community pushback.
The meeting was meant to be an informal open house at a local community centre, but it turned into a two-hour townhall with more than 100 people in attendance. Most of the crowd did not want the project to move ahead. Residents asked about water use, the size of the building, noise, and contingency plans for residential drinking wells. Some of those questions were not answered.
Company co-founder Nathan Ough said the project would be a “gargantuan economic driver” and could bring over 200 permanent, full-time jobs. He said the site would use an on-site natural-gas generating system that would provide about half of the data centre’s power and would use nearly zero water. He also said the project would achieve 98 per cent emissions abatement.
Residents challenged those claims. They said the site was promised only for non-emitting projects and questioned how a closed-loop cooling system could use little water. Community benefits were also unclear. People at the meeting said any compensation should go directly to Lorneville, while some argued the best outcome would be for the project not to proceed at all. The expansion’s Environmental Impact Assessment was approved in August, giving it the full green light.
Why it matters
For Saint John households and local businesses, the project could affect water, power use, roads and the feel of the community. Supporters are pitching jobs and economic growth, while residents worry about wells, emissions and industrial noise. The debate also affects how future data-centre projects may be handled in Atlantic Canada.
Who’s affected: Lorneville and Saint John residents near Spruce Lake
What’s next
The company said more details on water use will come through the environmental impact assessment process.
What to do
- Follow the environmental review process.
- Ask for clear details on water, power and emissions.
- Watch for any community benefit commitments.
Original reporting
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