Daily Digest — April 15, 2026
Maine Legislature Passes First-in-Nation Statewide Data Center Moratorium
The Maine Legislature has approved LD 307, a bill establishing a temporary statewide moratorium on new data center development for facilities with electric loads of 20 megawatts or more, according to the Portland Press Herald. The bill passed the House 79-62 and the Senate 21-13, and now awaits Governor Janet Mills' signature. If signed, it would mark the country's first statewide ban on data center development, prohibiting state, local, and quasi-governmental agencies from issuing permits or approvals until November 2027.
The bill also creates a Data Center Coordination Council, funded by the Public Utilities Commission, to study data center impacts and issue policy recommendations by February 2027, as reported by WMTW. Governor Mills has expressed reservations about the bill's lack of an exemption for an 82-megawatt data center proposal in Jay, according to NOTUS. The Jay developer, Tony McDonald, fears the moratorium would effectively end his project despite having initial construction permits.
A second bill, LD 713, was also sent to the governor. According to the Press Herald, it would prevent new data centers from receiving certain state tax incentives and business benefits after July and mandates a study on financial incentives data centers currently receive. The governor's office has not yet indicated whether she will sign either bill into law, as reported by Newsradio WGAN.
Maine lawmakers approve first-in-nation ban on data centers - Portland Press Herald
Maine Sunday Telegram
Maine Legislature Passes First Statewide Temporary Ban on Data Centers
Newsradio WGAN |
Maine Lawmakers Pass the First Statewide Ban on Large Data Centers
NOTUS
Legislature passes moratorium on data centers
WMTW
Over 500 Residents Pack Archbald Hearing to Oppose Wildcat Ridge Data Center
More than 500 residents attended the third conditional use zoning hearing for Cornell Realty Management's proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center Campus in Archbald, Pennsylvania, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune. The Brooklyn-based developer's proposal encompasses 14 two-story data centers, commercial and office space on 574.2 acres, 574 backup diesel generators, water consumption of up to 3.3 million gallons per day, and electricity requirements of 1.6 gigawatts.
Residents returned hundreds of developer-mailed promotional pamphlets at the start of the hearing, as reported by WVIA Public Media. A traffic engineer for the developer, Jerilyn Luben of L&V Engineering, faced scrutiny over her trip generation report. Attorney Justin Richards, representing opposing residents, noted that the ITE standards used were based on projects nearly ten times smaller than Wildcat Ridge's proposed 5.665 million square feet and that commercial and office space traffic was not included. Luben conceded the applicant's community impact analysis, which quoted fewer trips, was incorrect.
Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, County Controller Gary DiBileo, and retired senior Judge Thomas J. Munley spoke against the project, according to the Times-Tribune. Gaughan advocates for a three-year moratorium on data center construction. Judge Munley called for a moratorium or public referendum on the project. A separate opinion column in the Times-Tribune noted criticism of a CBS News segment featuring Senator Dave McCormick without disclosing his wife's role as president and vice chairman of Meta. The fourth hearing is scheduled for May 14, as reported by FOX56 and WNEP.
Developer's pamphlets, traffic forecasts dominate Wildcat Ridge data center hearing in Archbald
WVIA Public Media
Residents voice opposition to data center campus at Archbald hearing
WNEP
Flyers fly, frustration mounts over Wildcat Ridge Data Center hearing
FOX56 WOLF TV
Largest crowd yet shows up to oppose Archbald data centers
Scranton Times-Tribune
Chris Kelly Opinion: Data Centers on ‘Sunday Morning’ and Monday night
Scranton Times-Tribune
Newly Elected Festus Council Members Take Office on Anti-Data Center Platform
Four new members have been sworn into the Festus, Missouri, City Council after unseating incumbents in an election largely driven by opposition to a proposed hyperscale data center, according to STLPR. The new members — Karl Weekley, Alan McCarthy, Dan Moore, and Rick Belleville — campaigned on anti-data center and transparency platforms, as reported by KSDK News. Voter turnout more than doubled compared to the previous year.
The political shift follows a lawsuit filed by residents and the opposition group Wake Up JeffCo against the City of Festus and developer CRG, alleging unlawful private meetings with developers and attempts to circumvent Missouri's Sunshine Law, according to STLPR. New Councilman Dan Moore stated the council would explore legal avenues to halt the project despite an existing signed agreement, as reported by KMOV. The group is also circulating petitions for a recall election targeting the mayor and other officials. The new council members are pushing for a state audit and public council meetings.
Fort Meade Commission Unanimously Approves Stonebridge Data Center Agreement
The Fort Meade, Florida, City Commission unanimously approved a development agreement for Stonebridge's proposed $2.6 billion data center campus on over 1,300 acres of former phosphate mine land, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. The project envisions up to 4.4 million square feet of development and could become one of Florida's largest data centers. The facility is expected to create nearly 500 jobs by 2031.
Key project details, as reported by Tampa Bay 28:
- Closed-loop cooling system requiring 50,000 gallons of potable water per day from the city
- $10 million upfront payment to the city for infrastructure
- Power supplied by Duke Energy, separate from the Florida Municipal Power Agency serving Fort Meade residents
- Land use and zoning approvals previously granted in June
Over 40 residents signed up to speak at the meeting, with concerns centered on water usage, aquifer contamination, traffic, noise, and light pollution, according to 10 Tampa Bay. The project still requires permits from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as reported by FOX 13.
Fort Meade unanimously approves controversial data center deal despite fierce public pushback
Tampa Bay 28
Fort Meade moves forward with controversial $2.6B data center project despite community opposition
FOX 13 Tampa Bay
Fort Meade approves controversial data center deal despite public pushback
Tampa Bay 28
Fort Meade leaders approve data center proposal
10 Tampa Bay News
Fort Meade holds a vote for a new Data Center
10 Tampa Bay News
Prince William County Withdraws From Digital Gateway Data Center Legal Defense
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to withdraw from appeals defending the PW Digital Gateway data center project, ending the county's expenditure of $1.72 million in taxpayer funds on the legal defense, according to the Rappahannock News. The decision follows a March 31 Virginia Court of Appeals ruling that consolidated challenges brought by the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and the American Battlefield Trust, halting the project which was approved for rezoning in December 2023.
At full buildout, the Digital Gateway would have encompassed over 22 million square feet of data centers — more than 35 facilities — across approximately 2,000 acres near Manassas National Battlefield Park, as reported by WUSA9. The appeals court cited issues of improper public notice in its ruling, according to the Rappahannock News.
Developers QTS and Compass retain the option to appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court, but Prince William County will no longer participate in any further appeals. The Coalition to Protect Prince William County and the American Battlefield Trust praised the board's decision.
