Grand Falls Wants a Freeze on New Data Centres

Grand Falls already hosts two data centres. Now the northwestern municipality wants the province to stop approving any more.

The Grand Falls Regional Municipality is calling on the provincial government to impose a moratorium on new data centres in New Brunswick, Acadie Nouvelle reported on Oct. 22.

The municipality spells out its case in a three-page paper, Data Centres: Analysis and Recommendations, posted in English and French on its official publications page.

'Continuous 24/7 nuisance'

The paper asks the Government of New Brunswick to "impose a moratorium on the approval of new data centres and the expansion of existing centres." The pause would last until the province develops "a clear and coherent statement of provincial interest" to regulate them.

"With two data centres already operating within its territory, it has concrete experience with the spin-off benefits, challenges, and issues associated with these facilities," the paper says of the municipality.

It weighs the gains against the costs. On the plus side, it lists a bigger tax base, construction jobs, possible grid upgrades and heat that could warm greenhouses. Against that, it lists:

• "Continuous 24/7 nuisance for neighbouring residents," with effects on sleep
• "Risk of pressure on grid capacity and, indirectly, on rates"
• "Dependence on a single large taxpayer"
• "Few permanent jobs relative to the investment"
• possible pressure on the municipal water supply

Eight conditions

The paper wants the province to use the pause, working with municipalities, to:

1. hire independent experts, paid for if possible by the developer before a project is filed
2. require independent studies of noise, water, electricity demand and traffic
3. negotiate agreements with firm local-job commitments, noise limits with penalties, a heat-recovery plan and financial guarantees if a centre closes or goes bankrupt
4. write zoning rules for data centres instead of treating them as generic industry
5. favour existing industrial sites away from homes and sensitive natural areas
6. require public monthly and annual reports on noise, water, power use and jobs
7. hold information sessions separate from decision-making sessions
8. check grid and water capacity before committing

"Such a moratorium would not aim to prevent the development of the data centre industry in New Brunswick," the paper says. The goal is "responsible, predictable, and sustainable development."

Before the new law

Council had "Development of Data Centres" on its Sept. 15 agenda and again as unfinished business on Oct. 20. Minutes for those meetings were not posted as of Oct. 23.

The call lands days after the Oct. 20 throne speech promised data-centre standards in law this session, through amendments to the Electricity Act. Projects that miss the standards "will not be approved," the speech says.

N.B. Power has 10 data-centre projects in its connection queue, needing about 900 MW in all. Miramichi council paused a zoning change for data centres in July after public pushback.

Sources

• Acadie Nouvelle: Grand-Sault demande un moratoire sur les nouveaux centres de données
• Grand Falls Regional Municipality: Data Centres: Analysis and Recommendations
• Municipalité régionale de Grand-Sault: Centres de données : analyse et recommandations
• Grand Falls Regional Municipality: Official publications
• Grand Falls Regional Municipality: Council agenda, Sept. 15, 2026
• Grand Falls Regional Municipality: Council agenda, Oct. 20, 2026
• Speech from the Throne 2026: Delivering Change