Saint John Data Centre Assured to Avoid Excessive City Water Use, Companies Say

Companies proposing a major artificial intelligence data centre in west Saint John say the facility would not significantly drain the city’s water supply despite requiring substantial electrical power for operations.

According to registration documents filed as part of the environmental impact assessment process, the proposed data centre would use a closed-loop water-based cooling system that significantly reduces overall water consumption compared to open-loop or evaporative cooling designs. The companies estimate the initial infill for the system will be around 3.5 million litres, which they describe as a small fraction of what other industrial users in the city consume.

The project, led by Texas-based VoltaGrid and Calgary-based Beacon AI Centres, would be located in the Spruce Lake Industrial Park near the Lorneville neighbourhood. Company officials state the data centre would require a significant amount of power at 390 megawatts, with some of its needs met by an on-site natural gas power-generation plant.

The environmental impact assessment documents indicate the facility would produce enough greenhouse gases to make it one of the top emitters in the province. Beacon AI and VoltaGrid say they expect to have a commercial agreement with a customer lasting 15 to 20 years, though they do not identify a specific customer.

Data centres host large computer systems that store massive amounts of data for businesses and governments, and operate websites and apps such as video streaming services and AI search engines. The companies say the build would require more than 1,300 jobs during construction, with about 210 permanent positions once the site is operational, which they project could begin within 12 months if approved through the environmental impact assessment process, targeting operations in 2028.

At a standing-room-only open house held in November 2025, Nathan Ough, president and CEO of VoltaGrid, told residents the project would represent one of the company’s largest undertakings. He emphasized the facility would operate continuously and pledged it would not rely on water for cooling beyond minimal domestic use, stating, “I will commit to it in stone that VoltaGrid will consume zero water consumption other than any water from the toilet.”

Ough also emphasized the company’s commitment to high standards, telling Lorneville residents that “Everything we will do on this site will be at the humanly highest possible standard that People can physically build to.” The project is proposed for a 120-hectare parcel of land that was rezoned earlier this year as part of the Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion.

Residents at the open house raised concerns about drinking water, proximity to homes, and the loss of forested land. An Alberta-based artificial intelligence company involved in the project has not specified the exact amount of water it will need, stating it will design the facility around available resources after consulting local stakeholders.

The Irving Pulp and Paper mill and other industrial users in Saint John consume significantly more water than the estimated 3.5 million litres required for the data centre’s initial cooling system infill, according to the companies’ filings.