Dover-Foxcroft temporarily pauses data centers
The town of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, has enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center applications and projects. This pause will allow town officials to review and potentially amend existing municipal ordinances to adequately regulate future data center developments and address concerns related to environmental impact and energy use.
The Dover-Foxcroft Select Board has approved a 180-day temporary ban on data center applications and projects, aiming to allow town officials to review and potentially update existing municipal ordinances. Select Chair Steve Grammont clarified that the moratorium is a proactive measure, as no data center proposals are currently pending in Dover-Foxcroft, and its goal is to ensure the town's regulations are sufficient for any future interest.
This decision aligns with similar actions in other Maine communities, such as Bangor, and reflects broader statewide discussions on data center regulation. Governor Janet Mills previously vetoed a bill for an 18-month statewide ban, and the Maine Data Center Advisory Council is expected to issue a report on future project regulation early next year. Additionally, Dover-Foxcroft's Climate Action Advisory Committee is investigating the environmental impact, energy resources, and economic development aspects of data centers, with their report anticipated in early 2027.
Grammont emphasized that the pause is not intended to discourage development but to ensure that any future projects contribute fairly to the community and are properly regulated. He noted the town has implemented similar temporary bans in the past for other large-scale developments to allow for ordinance adjustments. The resolution defines a data center broadly, encompassing various digital data processing and storage facilities, including those for cryptocurrency mining and AI.