Why North Berwick plans to skip a data center moratorium and let voters decide
North Berwick, Maine, plans to bypass a temporary data center moratorium and instead put an ordinance for or against data center development directly to voters on the November ballot. This decision comes as other Maine municipalities have enacted moratoriums following Gov. Janet Mills' veto of a statewide pause. Residents and town officials express concerns about potential data centers' electricity, water usage, and noise pollution.
North Berwick, Maine, has opted to directly present an ordinance regarding data center development to its voters on the November ballot, rather than implementing a temporary moratorium like several neighboring towns. Town Manager Dwayne Morin stated the Select Board felt it was best to present the issue directly to the town. Select Board Chair Michael Johnson Jr. explained that North Berwick has not received any serious inquiries for data center projects, and he is unsure where one would even fit within the town.
This decision comes after Governor Janet Mills vetoed a statewide data center pause in April, citing a lack of necessary exemptions for an already approved data center in Jay. Consequently, at least six other Maine municipalities, including Bangor, Brunswick, Gorham, Sanford, Scarborough, and Westbrook, have passed their own moratoriums ranging from 91 to 180 days. Sanford's moratorium was prompted by a proposal for a 1,000-acre data center near the Mousam River, close to North Berwick.
North Berwick officials decided against a moratorium, believing it would unnecessarily prolong the process. Residents and the Select Board have expressed significant reservations about data centers, particularly concerning their high electricity and water consumption, and the potential for disruptive noise. Johnson likened the noise emitted by data centers to "a chainsaw running at full throttle." The town's planning and select boards are working to finalize the ordinance language by a September 1st deadline and will hold a public hearing on July 23rd.