Maine bans new data centres

Maine lawmakers have approved a temporary statewide ban on large new data centers and sent the bill to Governor Janet Mills. (pressherald.com) The bill, known as Legislative Document 307, would block state and local approvals for data centers with electric loads of 20 megawatts or more until November 2027. The House voted 79-62 on April 14, and the Senate followed 21-13 later that day. (pressherald.com) The same bill would create a Maine Data Center Coordination Council to study effects on the electric grid, household power bills, air, water and local communities, then report back to lawmakers by February 1, 2027. The Public Utilities Commission would cover the council’s cost after an amendment removed general-fund spending. (maine.gov; pressherald.com) Maine would be the first state to impose a statewide moratorium of this kind if Mills signs the measure. The vote lands as states and towns across the country debate how to handle data centers built for artificial intelligence, which can draw huge amounts of electricity and water. (reuters.com; mainepublic.org) Supporters say the pause gives Maine time to write rules before large projects arrive. Representative Melanie Sachs, a Freeport Democrat who sponsored the bill, said the state needs to evaluate effects on ratepayers, grid reliability, natural resources and host towns before opening the door to bigger facilities. (maine.gov) Opponents say the moratorium could push investment elsewhere and cut off jobs in former mill communities. In Jay, developer Tony McDonald said a proposed $550 million data center at the former Androscoggin paper mill would likely die if the state freezes approvals. (pressherald.com; newscentermaine.com) Mills has publicly pressed for an exemption for the Jay project, saying the town needs jobs and that existing hydropower and grid connections could limit added strain. As of April 15, her office had not said whether she will sign or veto the bill without that carveout. (mainepublic.org; reuters.com) The threshold at the center of the fight is 20 megawatts, roughly the size lawmakers chose to separate smaller projects from the largest proposed facilities. Maine lawmakers now have a bill on the governor’s desk and a deadline in November 2027 if the moratorium becomes law. (maine.gov; pressherald.com)