How Janet Mills’ data center veto reverberated around the country

Governor Janet Mills vetoed LD 307, a bill proposing the nation's first temporary ban on new data center development, a decision that has sparked significant debate both within Maine and nationally. Mills, a Democrat, stated she would have signed the bill if it had included an exemption for a data center project planned at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay. The veto has elicited strong reactions, with environmental advocates and several political figures condemning the move, citing concerns about data centers' impact on natural resources and electricity rates. Notably, most Democratic candidates vying to replace Mills in November indicated they would have signed the moratorium bill, including Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who called data centers a "boondoggle," and former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, who pledged to advance a moratorium on her first day as governor if elected. Conversely, the veto was praised by labor unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and developers, who argued that it protects local interests and responsible projects. Randy Gibbs, lead developer for a project in Sanford, called the veto "courageous," asserting that a moratorium would be unnecessarily harmful to Maine communities. The decision carries potential political ramifications for Mills, particularly as she faces a primary challenge for a U.S. Senate seat. While the Maine Legislature is scheduled to address the veto, it is considered unlikely to garner the two-thirds majority required to overturn Mills' rejection.