Maine Legislature doesn't override Gov. Mills' veto of data center moratorium

The Maine Legislature did not gather enough votes to override Governor Janet Mills' veto of LD 307, a bill that proposed a temporary moratorium on data center development within the state. The legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Melanie Sachs, aimed to ensure Maine was adequately prepared for the infrastructure demands of large-scale data centers. An override would have required a two-thirds majority vote in both the Maine House of Representatives and State Senate. Governor Mills had previously vetoed the bill on April 24, primarily due to its failure to include an exemption for a specific $550 million data center redevelopment project at the former Jay Paper Mill in Franklin County. Mills highlighted that this project, which has secured local support and several permits, is crucial for economic revitalization, promising over 800 construction jobs and 100 permanent high-paying positions, along with significant property tax revenue for the town of Jay. She noted the developers' commitment to using existing industrial infrastructure to mitigate environmental and ratepayer impacts. Simultaneously with her veto, Governor Mills issued an executive order establishing the Maine Data Center Advisory Council. This 15-person body is tasked with developing policy recommendations and strategies concerning large-scale data center development, focusing on protecting ratepayers, ensuring electric grid reliability, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting responsible economic growth. The Council is expected to deliver its recommendations to the governor and the Legislature by January 29, 2027. Additionally, the executive order directs the Department of Energy Resources and the Maine Public Utilities Commission to identify and implement measures to protect ratepayers from potential energy cost increases, citing recent U.S. Energy Information Administration data suggesting data centers could raise Maine's electricity rates by 36%.