Anthropic Signs a 20-Year Lease for Its First Canadian Data Centre at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia
EverWind will build a 95-megawatt first phase on an existing industrial site, scaling to 420 megawatts by 2028, in a C$10 billion plan that has already drawn political questions.
Outspoken Digest Technology Desk
Sunday, October 18, 2026/2 min read
An existing industrial site at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, is about to host some of the computing power behind Claude. On 16 October a company executive told Reuters that Anthropic had signed a lease with EverWind Fuels at Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, its first data centre agreement in Canada.
EverWind announced the project the same day, calling it the largest private investment in the province's history. Some early coverage described the tenant only as an unnamed AI developer, but BNN Bloomberg's account of the announcement names Anthropic.
What is in the Point Tupper deal?
The lease runs 20 years on an 18,600-square-metre facility, and EverWind did not disclose its value. The plan totals more than C$10 billion: about C$8 billion for the data centre campus and C$2 billion for onshore wind. The first phase draws 95 megawatts and is due online in late 2027. A 325-megawatt expansion in mid-2028 would take total demand to 420 megawatts.
Where will the power come from?
The wind farms will not be ready when the first phase opens. BNN Bloomberg reports that the province's independent grid operator found existing infrastructure can support the operation, and that EverWind will pay the full cost of energy connections and network upgrades so existing Nova Scotia ratepayers do not carry them.
Not everyone is satisfied. NDP leader Claudia Chender said the Houston government was backing the project without discussion, consultation, legislation or regulations. Data centres draw steady criticism for their electricity and water use, and Jacob Glick, Anthropic's head of public policy for Canada, told Reuters the company would protect ratepayers and water resources and make sure local communities benefit.
Why is Anthropic renting more capacity?
Reuters reports that Anthropic spent $7.33 billion on computing and infrastructure last year, roughly three times its 2024 spending. It also says the company is preparing a US share listing that could value it above $2 trillion, and that New York City Comptroller Mark Levine has urged a delay over safety and governance concerns.
Local officials have been measured. Claire Parsons, an EverWind spokesperson, said in September that the company was exploring a data centre at its existing site outside Port Hawkesbury, according to Let's Data Science. Richmond County Warden Lois Landry welcomed the possible economic activity but called for scrutiny under municipal, provincial and federal rules, and Premier Tim Houston has said development would need to meet water and environmental conditions. A local resident, Julissa Stewart, raised concerns about where the facility would get its water.
The next test is local approval. The lease is signed, but Nova Scotians will judge the project on whether the promises about rates and water hold up once the permits are argued in public.
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