HALIFAX: With large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data centres popping up across Canada, Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin is introducing legislation to ensure Nova Scotia ratepayers are not left paying the bill for their massive electricity and infrastructure needs.
The Data Centre Water and Ratepayer Protection Act would require any future data centres to pay the full costs they impose on Nova Scotia’s electricity system, including the full cost of electricity and new infrastructure they require.
Before a data centre gets access to the grid, the Nova Scotia Energy Board would have to approve a cost-recovery agreement, with companies providing financial security to ensure ratepayers are protected.
“Power rates have gone up 24 per cent under this government, and people cannot afford to pay more so massive data centres can operate,” said Rankin. “If these projects come to Nova Scotia, the companies behind must pay their own way. Families and small
businesses should never be left subsidizing them through their power bills.”
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The legislation would also protect Nova Scotia’s water resources by requiring large data centres to conserve water or pay a mitigation charge to help cover the impact of their water use.
“Nova Scotians should be protected from becoming the financial backstop for a billion-dollar data centre,” said Rankin.
“AI and data centres are expanding rapidly across the country.
If these projects come here, we need the rules in place before the first shovel hits the ground, not after Nova Scotians are already on the hook.”
