Maine
Most Mainers oppose AI data centers in their communities, poll finds
Just one day after Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced a new state council tasked with studying the impacts of AI data centers in Maine, a new poll suggests a majority of Mainers oppose their construction.
A new poll from UMass Lowell found that 72% of Mainers are against AI data centers being built in their communities.
That includes 51% who strongly oppose the projects, while only 28% support them.
In April, Mills vetoed a bill that would have paused all large-scale AI data center projects in the state, citing a planned facility in Jay.
Since then, several Maine communities have adopted moratoriums of their own. The latest is Scarborough, which enacted its moratorium earlier this week.