Lorneville residents take over meeting on proposed AI data centre

A Saint John open house on a proposed AI data centre became an impromptu town hall Thursday as protesters and Lorneville residents took the stage to voice opposition. Beacon AI and Voltagrid's Spruce Lake project includes a 390-megawatt data centre and a 190-megawatt natural gas plant, which its environmental assessment says would produce emissions equal to 6.6 per cent of the province's 2023 total. Speakers raised concerns about water use, noise, air quality and climate impacts. Beacon executive Joseph Shovlin said the project has no tenant or approval yet and is fully self-funded. Organizers estimated more than 250 people attended.