Maine Governor Mills vetoes data center moratorium bill
Original: Janet Mills vetoes Maine data center ban
Why This Matters
First potential state-level data center moratorium fails, highlighting regulatory tensions
Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed legislation that would have made Maine the first US state to impose a moratorium on large data centers requiring over 20 megawatts of power until October 2027 while studying their grid and environmental impacts.
Mills vetoed the Democratic-led Legislature's bill that would have frozen approvals for data centers over 20 megawatts until October 2027 while a state council analyzed impacts on the local grid, electricity bills, air and water. Mills said she supports a temporary moratorium but wanted an exemption for a data center project at the former International Paper mill site in Jay. 'A moratorium is appropriate given the impacts of massive data centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates. But the final version of this bill fails to allow for a specific project in Jay that enjoys strong local support,' she stated. The Androscoggin paper mill in Jay shut down in 2023 after a boiler explosion, causing hundreds of job losses. The decision comes as Mills runs for U.S. Senate against progressive candidate Graham Platner.