New bill would temporarily pause data center development in Maine

The Maine legislature is considering a bill that would temporarily pause the development of larger data centers in the state until fall 2027. The bill, which was advanced by a legislative committee, would prohibit the permitting of new data center projects over 20 megawatts. Developers have warned that the bill could kill plans for a 300-megawatt data center in Sanford. However, some lawmakers, like Representative Christopher Kessler, have expressed concerns about the project and support the temporary pause to allow the state to establish a new regulatory framework for data centers. The bill would also require the creation of a Data Center Coordination Council to provide policy recommendations by 2027.