After Mills vetoes statewide pause, Maine towns move to halt data center projects locally

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.