Community group targets festival sponsorship to press data-centre opposition
Opponents of a proposed hyperscale data centre development are urging Saint John residents to boycott part of the Moonlight Bazaar after the Energy Stage was announced as being sponsored by Texas-based company VoltaGrid.
The call to action comes from advocacy group Resists Data Centres NB, which says it will not discourage people from supporting local vendors at the open-air festival but wants residents to avoid ticketed performances and revenue sources that will benefit the event organiser and the stage sponsor.
“We don’t support an American company that wants to prey on the small community of Lorneville,”
The group’s campaign focuses on the proposed project at the expanded Spruce Lake Industrial Park in Lorneville. Last year, VoltaGrid and Calgary-based Beacon AI announced plans for what has been described as a roughly $2 billion data-centre development on land rezoned by city council to enlarge the industrial park.
Opponents say the project raises multiple concerns for Saint John residents, including potential loss of old-growth forest, increased noise, added pressure on electrical supply and the possibility of higher rates, plus environmental and local amenity impacts.
- Resists Data Centres NB is urging people to skip performances on the Energy Stage, including Canadian rapper k-os, rather than boycotting local vendors.
- The group says the festival should not profit if it aligns with corporate interests they view as harmful to the community.
- Organisers of the Moonlight Bazaar and VoltaGrid were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of reporting.
Local context and broader implications
Saint John council’s decision to rezone about 120 hectares for the Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion enabled proponents to propose a hyperscale development that would be among the largest investments in the region.
Supporters of such projects often cite job creation and increased economic activity. Critics counter that the long-term costs — ecological loss, energy demand and noise — have not been fully addressed to the satisfaction of many residents and local advocates.
| Issue | Concerns cited by opponents |
|---|---|
| Environment | Loss of old-growth forest, ecosystem disruption |
| Energy | High electricity demand, potential pressure on grid and rates |
| Community impact | Noise, strain on local services, perceived lack of local benefit |
Organisers of the Moonlight Bazaar have been approached for comment about the sponsorship arrangement and whether they considered potential backlash when accepting VoltaGrid as a sponsor. Local media also spoke to Resists Data Centres NB, whose members say their intention is to demonstrate that New Brunswick and Saint John are not for sale to outside interests they view as parasitic.
The boycott call leaves open how residents will respond on the evening of the festival. Some supporters of the opposition say they will still buy from local artisans and food vendors but will avoid ticketed performances and satellite bars that generate profit for the event operator and sponsor.
As the summer festival season continues, the dispute highlights the tensions that can arise when municipal economic development decisions intersect with community values and environmental concerns. City leaders, festival organisers and proponents of the data-centre project will face continued scrutiny from residents weighing the proposed financial benefits against long-term local impacts.
