North Berwick could vote to ban data centers in November
The town of North Berwick, Maine, is considering a permanent ban on data centers, with the issue to be decided by voters in November. The Select Board opted against a temporary moratorium, choosing instead to put a zoning ordinance amendment to a ballot vote. This action comes as residents have expressed strong opposition to data center developments in the community.
North Berwick, Maine, is set to become the latest town in the state to address data center development, but instead of implementing a temporary moratorium, it will allow voters to decide on a permanent ban in November. The North Berwick Select Board determined that the potential negative impacts of data centers outweigh the benefits and opted to send a question directly to the ballot, reflecting strong resident opposition.
The proposed ballot measure will ask voters to define data centers and decide whether to permanently ban facilities with a data center area of 25,000 square feet or larger. Town Manager Dwayne Morin stated that all indications from residents point to opposition, leading the board to forward the issue for a town-wide vote.
This move contrasts with at least eight other Maine towns that have passed temporary bans on data center development. If approved by North Berwick voters, the measure would amend the town's zoning ordinance to enact the permanent prohibition.