Scarborough and Westbrook Consider Data Center Bans
The Maine towns of Scarborough and Westbrook are considering permanent bans on data centers after previously enacting temporary moratoriums. Officials are concerned about the high power and water consumption, noise, and strain on public infrastructure. Both town councils have referred proposed ordinance amendments to their planning boards for further review.
Scarborough and Westbrook, Maine, are moving towards potentially permanent bans on data center development, following temporary moratoriums enacted in June. Officials from both communities cite concerns over the strain on local resources such as power and water consumption, noise pollution, and general environmental impacts as reasons for the proposed restrictions. They acknowledge that these policies could be revisited as technology and regulations evolve.
In Scarborough, the Town Council unanimously voted to schedule a second public hearing on October 21st and referred proposed zoning ordinance amendments to the planning board. These amendments would prohibit data centers in all zoning districts by excluding them from existing "high technology facility" and "research, development, and light industrial" classifications. This action stems from a 180-day moratorium passed in June, which allowed the town to study data center impacts.
Similarly, the Westbrook City Council proactively implemented a 180-day moratorium in June and tasked its planning board with developing recommendations. Currently, data centers are only permitted in the Rock Row Contract Zone without specific standards beyond site plan review. City staff recommended prohibiting standalone data centers and removing their use from this zone, though on-site enterprise IT facilities would still be allowed. Rebecca Spitella, Westbrook's director of planning and code enforcement, highlighted a "cultural shift" in public opinion due to AI advancements and a current lack of adequate state and local regulations, emphasizing the need for more information before establishing informed standards.