Maine
Maine got only one bid on its latest 10-year liquor contract
Pine State Trading Co. has a large fleet of trucks that it uses to deliver spirits to the more than 640 agency liquor stores throughout the state. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal, 2014 file photo
When bidding closed on Maine’s new 10-year liquor contract, Pine State Trading Co.’s victory was all but inevitable.
Pine State, a Gardiner-based business that’s been family-owned since it launched in the 1940s, was the sole bidder on both the administration contract for the distribution of distilled spirits in Maine and a smaller trade marketing contract. It is anticipated to rake in nearly $200 million over the next decade.
With no competition, the state awarded Pine State a tentative contract and then spent months negotiating final terms in closed-door meetings.
It’s not clear how those negotiations went because the state agency that handles the contract would not discuss details. But experts in government contracting say that having just one bidder on any given proposal can disadvantage state agencies and increases the need for transparency.
Pine State CEO Nicholas Alberding had no way to know whether any other bidders would step up, but said he was unconcerned about being skipped over for the lucrative contract. After all, his company had handled the work for roughly a decade under the previous contract.
“I didn’t spend a lot of time worried about it. I mean, I’m not a worrier that way,” he said on a phone call Wednesday morning.
Alberding said he told his team to act as if there were several other competitive bids when formulating theirs, and argued that the fees Pine State will earn under the new contract “only came in a kick higher than the previous amount.”
The company is now entitled to 7.55% of the state’s spirits sales and what’s known as bailment revenue, which includes handling, storage and other fees – up from 7.2% for nine of the last 10 years. That’s just under a 5% increase in its share, which is itself dependent on liquor sales and other revenue.
Nicholas Alberding of Pine State Trading. Photo by Ronald C. Simons
Maine law requires the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, or BABLO, to contract out the operations of the state’s entire spirits business, meaning it can’t simply back away from a bad deal if there’s not another option on the table.
“It stops being very competitive, because now there’s nowhere to go,” said Jessica Tillipman, associate dean for government procurement law at George Washington University’s law school. “When you put all of your eggs in one basket, if they fail you fail.”
In such cases, some said, transparency in the contract procurement and negotiation process becomes even more important.
“Dealing with only a single bidder, contract negotiations are very important and must be transparent,” said Khi Thai, professor emeritus at Florida Atlantic University’s school of public administration.
Pine State’s previous contract was initially scheduled to expire at the end of June, but it was extended through November to give the company and state time to negotiate specific terms, BABLO spokesperson Sharon Huntley said in September. The contract was ultimately signed Nov. 26.
Huntley would not provide details about the contract negotiations while they were taking place or after they had concluded, including whether there were any sticking points. But she said negotiations spanned a typical amount of time for a contract of this size and complexity.
Huntley also repeatedly denied requests to interview BABLO Director Louis Luchini, who is the administrator of the new contract, and Kirsten Figueroa, commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, which oversees the bureau.
“The current model has proven a consistent, dependable revenue source for the state, which was able to pay down the debt service on the revenue bond issued to pay Maine’s hospital debt ahead of schedule early under the last contract period, and now dedicates spirits revenues to the Highway Fund,” Huntley said in a statement. She said the state earned more than $500 million in spirits and related revenue during the last 10 years.
Pine State made more than $120 million from the last decade-long contract, according to a review of the bureau’s annual reports.
The new contract is estimated to generate nearly $19 million for Pine State each year. But that figure, based on fiscal year 2024, could prove higher if revenue continues to grow.
NO OTHER BIDDERS?
Alberding said he could not speak to why other companies did not bid on the contract, but he noted the complexity of the contract and the high benchmarks for fulfillment, including being available for twice-weekly deliveries across the entire state and having a warehouse within 30 miles of BABLO’s headquarters in Augusta.
“I would suspect that others looked at it … and chose that it wasn’t a good strategy for them,” Alberding said. “It’s an overwhelming task. You’ve got to be able to do this economically, and it’s got to work.”
Alberding said his company has more than 50 trucks on the road on a given day, setting a difficult standard for any newcomer to match. They use that fleet to deliver bottles to Maine’s more than 640 agency liquor stores – retailers approved by the state to sell distilled spirits, which include liquor stores, gas stations and grocers. The contract does not cover beer and wine.
David Canarie, adjunct professor of business law at the University of Southern Maine and a member of the University of Maine School of Law’s compliance program faculty, said that depending on the industry, having just one provider who can fulfill a contract’s requirements “may just be a fact of life.”
“It’s not inherently a problem,” Canarie said. “So long as we end up through the (request for proposal) process, and the contracting process and oversight process with a contract that works. … But a lot of that involves constant oversight of that contract.”
Under the new contract, Pine State is required to maintain regular communication with BABLO that includes sending monthly tax collection reports and providing the bureau access to its inventory control system. The contract also provides minimum benchmarks for revenue growth that Pine State must achieve, which are reset annually and can trigger amendments to the agreement if missed two years in a row.
“You want to make sure that the person who’s overseeing it from the state has the experience, and the time, and the authority within the state to oversee the relationship in a meaningful way,” Canarie said.
In this case, that person is BABLO director Luchini, who joined the bureau this year – after bidding on the latest contract closed but before negotiations concluded – following a stint as the Small Business Administration’s New England regional advocate and more than a decade in the Maine Legislature.
Pine State Trading Co. has a large fleet of trucks it uses to deliver spirits to the more than 640 agency liquor stores throughout the state. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal, file
Luchini was not available for an interview, Huntley said.
Alberding said BABLO is run by “smart people,” and his company has always had a strong relationship with the bureau’s leadership.
Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, chaired the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, which oversees the bureau, and has previously criticized BABLO for a lack of transparency in its pricing structures. Hickman declined to speak about its procurement process or its transparency when contacted last week.
Hickman said Pine State is among the state’s strongest contracted partners. He said the company, which is based in his district, employees many of his constituents and seems to treat its workers well while fulfilling its obligations to Maine.
“They go above and beyond. They just have a good reputation. I’ve never heard a bad thing about them,” Hickman said. “I think they have helped the state make money.”
Indeed, the state’s previous contract with Pine State proved much more lucrative than its predecessor.
From 2004-14, when the Maine Beverage Company oversaw spirits distribution, the state made $189 million in revenue, Huntley said.
“By comparison, the 2014-2024 contract exceeded that amount after just the first four years, and through Year 9 of the contract had generated $502 million for the state of Maine,” Huntley said in an email.
WANING COMPETITION
More than a decade ago, when the 2014-24 request for proposals was released, two companies put down bids for the administrative contract: Pine State and a now-defunct entity called All Maine Spirits LLC.
David E. Warren, an attorney listed as All Maine Spirits’ registered agent, said the company dissolved after it was passed over for the contract. Warren said he could not recall the full details of the business plan, as “we never got to that stage.”
Warren said he worked with two principal investors to craft the bid, but both died since then.
On the second 2014 contract, which included trade marketing rights, Pine State was up against two competing bids: one from the since-renamed Dirigo Spirit Company and another from marketing group CD+M Communications.
Ford Reiche, the registered agent of Dirigo Spirit, now known as Reiche Company, LLC, declined to speak on the record for this story.
Duncan Stout, president of CD+M, said that after his company lost its bid for the trade marketing side of the 2014 contract, they partnered with Pine State to help produce marketing materials for the first few years of that contract.
Stout believes Pine State’s sweeping network of trucks, warehouses and laborers won them the 2014 contract.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody else in the state of Maine who has that kind of infrastructure,” Stout said.
But Stout said the two companies parted ways on mutual terms a few years ago.
“We were unhappy to lose our relationship with Pine State. It had to do more with personalities, it had to do more with expectations,” Stout said, though he declined to say what precise issues came up.
Alberding did not not return a phone call asking for details on his company’s relationship with CD+M.
When the state initially put out its requests for proposals late last year, it offered two contracts: one for administration, which includes warehousing and distribution, and another for trade marketing. But since Pine State was the only company to bid on either project, the two contracts were consolidated into one for 2024-34.
Tillipman, the GW Law associate dean, said that consolidation can improve the efficiency of certain government contracts, but she cautioned that over-consolidation can stifle competition by discouraging companies that may be able to perform only some of the work from applying.
Consolidated contracts are relatively rarely split apart later, she said.
“It’s easier for people to do what they’ve always done. There’s kind of this inertia that comes with the procurement process,” Tillipman said. “Once it goes a certain way it tends to be that way.”
Still, it’s far too early to tell how the next decade will play out or how the state will approach procuring the 2034 liquor contract.
When asked how the state aims to keep the procurement process competitive, and whether the state has any plans to try and attract new bidders, Huntley said the “spirits landscape is likely to change significantly over the course of the next 10 years.”
“Prior to the expiration of this contract, BABLO will aim to keep the process competitive by adjusting to industry shifts, consumer expectations, and the state’s interests,” she said.
Noah Day hit an RBI double and Chace Lubchansky ended the game with a walk-off single as top-seeded Fryeburg Academy rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat fourth-seeded Cape Elizabeth, 4-3, in a Class B South baseball semifinal Saturday in Fryeburg.
Fryeburg (15-3) advances to play No. 3 Greely in the regional final on Tuesday in Standish.
The Raiders pulled within a run in the bottom of the fifth when Day scored on an error. Cape (12-6) had taken the lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Finn Connolly, who scored on an error to make it 3-1.
Connolly also had an RBI single in the first inning. Fryeburg scored on an error in the bottom of the first.
GREELY 7, LEAVITT 2: Jonah Clorius pitched a two-hitter and the third-seeded Rangers (13-5) scored five runs in the third inning on their way to a Class B South semifinal win over the second-seeded Hornets (15-3) in Turner.
Clorius allowed one earned run while striking out four and walking two.
Kyle Soule and Jarrett Bush both had two hits and drove in two runs for Greely. Rocky Axelson hit a triple and scored twice.
Ryder Sawyer-Brown and Brody Poland each had a hit for Leavitt.
MARANACOOK 6, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 5: The second-seeded Black Bears (16-2) took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and held off the third-seeded Seagulls (13-5) in a Class C South semifinal in Readfield.
Cam Jones had three hits and two RBI for Maranacook, which advances to the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine against No. 1 Monmouth Academy. Will Watson had two hits and scored two runs.
Wes Gallant and Aiden Hodgkins both had two hits for Old Orchard Beach, which scored four runs in the sixth and one in the seventh before its comeback bid fell short.
MONMOUTH ACADEMY 13, WAYNFLETE/NYA 3: Bryce Fletcher drove in three runs and Jake Harmon and Noah Schultz knocked in two apiece as the defending Class C champions (17-1) advanced to the regional final by taking down Waynflete/NYA (11-7) in a Class C South semifinal in Monmouth.
Monmouth, the No. 1 seed, will face No. 2 Maranacook (16-2) for the regional championship Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine. The Black Bears dealt the Mustangs their only loss of the season, 3-2, on April 29.
Fletcher finished with three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Rory and Zane Foyt each had two hits and drove in a run.
Kellen Gardiner doubled and had three of fifth-seeded Waynflete/NYA’s seven hits.
SOFTBALL
CHEVERUS 10, GORHAM 0: Addison DeRoche struck out 10, and the top-seeded Stags (18-0) earned a spot in the Class A South final with a five-inning win over the fourth-seeded Rams (14-4) in Portland.
Cheverus which will face second-seeded Bonny Eagle on Tuesday in Auburn. The Stags are the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll.
DeRoche allowed four hits and walked one.
The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Cheverus struck for five runs. The Stags put the mercy rule into effect by adding five runs in the fifth.
Sadie Collins had two hits, two RBI and scored twice. Anna Goodman and Anna Kennedy-Jensen also recorded two hits, and Tempy Lovejoy smacked a double, as did Goodman.
Sawyer VonderHaar hit a double for Gorham.
LAKE REGION 5, YORK 1: Haley Hamlin struck out 11 while throwing a four-hitter and also was 2 for 3 at the plate as the third-seeded Lakers (14-4) beat the No. 2 Wildcats (16-2) in a Class B South semifinal in York.
Lake Region opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, then added two more in the third on consecutive singles by Haley Hamlin, Ava Cole and Vylet Robbins.
Emily Blake drove in York’s run with a single in the fourth inning.
The Lakers will play for the regional title Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College against top-seeded Medomak Valley.
NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY 10, FOREST HILLS 0: Lily Fortin homered for the game’s first run and struck out 14 while pitching a one-hitter as the second-seeded Panthers (16-1) defeated the third-seeded Tigers (14-3) in a five-inning Class D South semifinal in Yarmouth.
Fortin and Cami Casserly (two hits) both drove in two runs. NYA broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning.
In the circle, Fortin walked two and allowed only two hitters to put the ball in play. Losing pitcher Janessa Moffitt got the lone hit for Forest Hills.
NYA will play No. 1 Buckfield in the regional final Tuesday at St. Joseph’s College.
DIRIGO 9, OLD ORCHARD BEACH 1: Leah Turnbull tossed a one-hitter, and the top-seeded Cougars (17-1) rolled past the No. 5 Seagulls (10-8) in a Class C South semifinal in Dixfield.
Dirigo will meet second-seeded Monmouth Academy (16-2) in the regional final Tuesday at the University of Southern Maine.
Turnbull struck out four and didn’t allow a walk. She also contributed offensively with a hit, a run and an RBI.
The Cougars finished with 13 hits and didn’t strike out once. Xandria Libby went 3 for 3 and drove in a run. Lana Waite and Abby Luczynski each had a single and a double, Emma Witas also notched two hits, and Zoey Bordeau drove in two runs and scored twice.
Reagan Partridge scored Old Orchard Beach’s run on an RBI double from Hannah Webber.
GIRLS LACROSSE
KENNEBUNK 15, BONNY EAGLE 5: Anna McCarron recorded four goals and two assists to lead the top-seeded Rams (14-1) to a Class A quarterfinal win over the eighth-seeded Scots (9-7) in Kennebunk.
Camdyn Keenan added a goal and seven assists for Kennebunk, the No. 1 team in the Varsity Maine poll. The Rams face No. 4 Cheverus on Wednesday.
Julianna Urban added three goals, Alexandra Foy, Helen Kennie and Madeline Dowling both scored twice, and Sofia Olsen had one goal. Kennebunk’s Eliza Nass and Brielle Thompson combined for five saves.
Elizabeth Hamilton led Bonny Eagle with two goals. Caroline Krunkkala, Kalia Davis and Allie Ryan each were the other goal scorers.
Summertime means packed touring schedules for bands of many musical genres, and plenty of them are making stops in Maine. From ’90s alternative darlings The Breeders to legends like Joe Jackson and Barry Manilow, along with Maine acts 12/OC and The Ghost of Paul Revere, there are many ways to make this a live music summer to remember.
Here are 19 shows to consider between now and early September at some of Maine’s biggest indoor and outdoor venues.
Mumford & Sons
6 p.m. June 16. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $63.75-$159.75. waterfrontconcerts.com.
One of the biggest events of the summer of 2013 was Mumford & Sons bringing their “Gentlemen of the Road Stopover” festival to Portland’s Eastern Prom. This summer, the band will be performing in Bangor, in support of its sixth album “Prizefighter.” Dylan Gossett opens.
The Breeders
8 p.m. June 18. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $49.50 in advance, $55 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.
Alternative rock darlings The Breeders is sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, Josephine Wiggs and Jim MacPherson. Since 1990, the band has released five albums and gone through several hiatuses while members were involved with other projects. Most notable is their 1993 release “Last Splash,” home to quintessential ’90s tune “Cannonball.”
Jelly Roll
7:30 p.m. June 20. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $85.25-$223.95. waterfrontconcerts.com.
Jelly Roll is the professional name of Jason Bradley DeFord. Popular songs by the country, rock and hip-hop singer-songwriter include “Need a Favor” and “Son of a Sinner.” Jelly Roll won a 2024 Best Contemporary County Album Grammy for “Beautifully Broken.” His Little Ass Shed Tour pulls into Bangor with blues, country, rock and folk artist Kashus Culpepper opening the show.
Wilco
7 p.m. June 21. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $62 in advance, $70 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.
Chicago-based rock band Wilco has played in Maine many times through the decades, and the next show is an outdoor one. Fronted by Jeff Tweedy, Wilco also features bassist John Stirratt, who owns a home in the Midcoast. With 13 albums of material to choose from, the show should satisfy new fans and longtime ones.
Barry Manilow
7 p.m. July 3. Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, $77-$385. crossarenaportland.com.
Pop singer Barry Manilow’s final concert in Portland is one of the crown jewels of the summer, after being rescheduled from April 19 because Manilow was ill. With classic songs like “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana (At the Copa),” the legacy artist will likely draw a huge crowd as he takes his final bow in Maine.
Joe Jackson
8 p.m. July 11. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $55.50-$99.50. statetheatreportland.com.
British singer, songwriter and pianist Joe Jackson released the album “Hope and Fury,” his 20th, in April. The Grammy winner’s discography dates back to the 1979 debut album “Look Sharp!,” home to Jackson staples “Sunday Papers,” “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and “Fools in Love.” His piano chops are as impressive as his vocals, so you expect a first-rate show from Jackson and his band.
Alison Krauss & Union Station
6 p.m. July 11. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, 1 Geranium Lane, Sidney, $70-$153. snowpond.org.
Alison Krauss & Union Station have been in the forefront of bluegrass and roots music for more than 40 years. With a show that will include songs from their latest album, “Arcadia,” you can look forward to a fantastic performance from the multiple Grammy winners. The band includes Krauss (fiddle, vocals), Jerry Douglas (Dobro, lap steel), Ron Block (banjo, guitar, vocals), Barry Bales (bass, vocals) and Russell Moore (guitar, mandolin, vocals). Theo Lawrence opens the show.
12/OC
6:30 p.m. July 18. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, 1 Geranium Lane, Sidney, $27.76. snowpond.org.
This on-the-rise Maine country band was founded by Portland brothers Will and Reid Nichols, who started playing gigs when they were 10 and 13. 12 O/C has been building a loyal following in Maine for several years and moved to Nashville about two years ago. The show is a benefit for the Travis Mills Foundation, with Kelsey Hart opening.
Weird Al Yankovic
7:30 p.m. July 19. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $56.75-$213.45. waterfrontconcerts.com.
No one writes and sings pop parodies quite like Weird Al Yankovic. The Grammy winner has been at it for more than 45 years, and has sold more than 12 million albums. Hits include parodies of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” (“Eat It”) in 1984, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” (“Like a Surgeon”) in 1985 and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (“Smells Like Nirvana”) in 1992. Yankovic’s “Bigger & Weirder” show will kick off with Puddles Pity Party, a sad clown character who sings covers.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
6:30 p.m. July 21. The Bowl in the Pines at Snow Pond Center for the Arts, Sidney, $63.43-$120.06. snowpond.org.
For a summer night full of rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues, hip-hop and Caribbean-influenced music, head to Sidney for Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. Shorty is the pride of New Orleans and his shows are both celebratory and musically tremendous. JJ Grey & Mofro will open the show.
Toto, Christopher Cross and the Romantics
6:45 p.m. July 23. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $35-$233.50. waterfrontconcerts.com.
Relive the heyday of ’80s pop music with a trio of acts who know how to pack a Top 40 punch. Toto will have you scream-singing along to “Africa,” Christopher Cross will remind you that the canvas can do miracles with “Sailing,” and the Romantics will have you jumping up and down with “What I Like About You.” All three have multiple hits, so plan on a highly entertaining and nostalgic night of music.
Herbie Hancock
7:30 p.m. Aug. 1. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $75-$110. porttix.com.
Herbie Hancock, 86, has been a huge presence in modern jazz, funk, electronic music, rock and other genres for his entire career. It’s no wonder he’s won 14 Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. You may recall Hancock’s 1983 instrumental hit “Rockit,” and his 2007 release “River: The Joni Letters” with its lush piano interpretations of Joni Mitchell’s songs like “Both Sides Now” and “Sweet Bird.”
Guster on the Ocean
4 p.m. Aug. 8 & 9. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $70, $40 kids, $130 adult two-day pass, $30 kids two-day pass. statetheatreportland.com.
This will be the eighth year that the rock band Guster, featuring Cape Elizabeth singer and guitarist Adam Gardner, has made Portland the home of its summer festival. The Merrill Auditorium show on Aug. 7 with the Portland Symphony Orchestra is long sold out, but there are still tickets to two big outdoor shows at Thompson’s Point. The lineup features Iron & Wine, Watchhouse, The Barr Brothers, Neal Francis, Eggy, Dave Butler & Friends, Bebe Stockwell, Khatumu and Cilla Bonnie.
Billy Idol
7:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $44.50-$181.50. waterfrontconcerts.com.
British rocker Billy Idol will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with the ceremony taking place in Los Angeles in November. Before that happens, he’ll be on a huge tour that includes a show in Bangor. Sing along with hits like “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without a Face,” “Dancing With Myself” and “Rebel Yell,” among others.
Brandi Carlile
7 p.m. Aug. 13. Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, $85-$497. crossarenaportland.com.
Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile’s latest record is “Returning To Myself.” The Human Tour, named for its second track, swings through Portland in August. Since 2005, Carlile has released nine studio albums, including a collaboration with Elton John, and has won 11 Grammy Awards. Some of Carlile’s best known songs include “The Story,” “Hold Out Your Hand” and “The Joke.”
Indigo Girls
7 p.m. Aug. 25. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $53 in advance, $61 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.
Indigo Girls is the folk duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, known for their vocal harmonies, songwriting and musicianship. The show will feature sing-alongs of Indigo Girls’ signature songs like “Closer to Fine,” “Galileo” and if we’re lucky, “Kid Fears.”
ZZ Top
7 p.m. Sept. 6. Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor, $65.20-$304.70. waterfrontconcerts.com.
Texas rock band ZZ Top’s hits include “Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” The band continues to play righteous shows after losing original Dusty Hill, bassist, in 2021. “The Big One!” tour features opening act George Thorogood & The Destroyers. Be ready to belt out “Bad to the Bone.” B-b-b-bad!
Ghostland
5 p.m. Sept. 6. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $55 in advance, $65 day of show, free for kids 3 and under. statetheatreportland.com.
Take part in a festival that’s a reunion for one of Maine’s best-loved bands. The Ghost of Paul Revere, started by childhood friends Griffin William Sherry, Sean McCarthy and Max Davis from Buxton and Hollis, were together for more than a decade and toured nationally before breaking up in 2022. The band hosted its own annual festival, Ghostland, usually at Thompson’s Point. They’ll play this year’s Thompson’s Point show with Futurebirds, Weakened Friends and Mikaela Davis.
LCD Soundsystem
7 p.m. Sept. 9. Thompson’s Point, Portland, $75 in advance, $85 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.
With a devoted following, dance-punk act LCD Soundsystem is led by James Murphy. Popular tracks include “Dance Yrself Clean” and “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.” They called it quits in 2011, then rebooted in 2016. They’ve released five albums, starting with their breakthrough self-titled 2005 release.
This story was originally published by the Maine Trust for Local News. Aimsel Ponti can be reached at aponti@pressherald.com.
PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) — While the statewide moratorium on data center development was vetoed by Governor Mills, local communities across the state are now taking matters into their own hands, with some passing their own pauses.
At least four southern Maine cities and towns, including Scarborough, Sanford, and Westbrook have all implemented local data center moratoriums in recent weeks.
It comes as new polling show most Mainers opposed the construction of these facilities.
That poll, conducted by UMass Lowell and released last week, shows 72% of Mainers don’t want a data center built in their community, including 51% who strongly opposed it.
Just 28% said they would support that type of development.
The results mirror what’s being seen across the country.
According to a poll released Friday by Reuters, only 14% of Americans said they felt comfortable with a data center being built nearby.
77% said they worried AI-driven data centers would raise their electricity costs.
Those are concerns lawmakers here in Maine say cross the political spectrum.
“Red states, blue states, purple states are having this conversation, and people just want to have some answers about what this technology means, what this development opportunity means,” Rep. Melanie Sachs said.
Maine currently has a data center advisory council studying the potential impact large-scale data center development could have on the state’s energy grid and resources.
They’re expected to release a final report in January.
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