Maine governor vetoes bill temporarily banning large data centers in the state

Maine Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a legislative bill that sought to impose a temporary moratorium on the construction of large data centers, specifically those consuming 20 megawatts of power or more, until the fall of 2027. The bill, which had passed both houses of the Maine legislature, also called for the creation of a "Maine Data Center Coordination Council" to address related opportunities and risks. Governor Mills stated her support for a temporary moratorium in principle but desired an exemption for an existing data center project in Jay, Maine. While rejecting this specific bill, she announced plans to issue an executive order to establish a council similar to the one proposed in the vetoed legislation. Furthermore, Governor Mills signed LD 713, a bill that prohibits data centers from participating in Maine’s business development tax incentive programs. The debate in Maine reflects a broader national trend, with at least 12 other states, including New York, considering similar legislation to block or temporarily halt data center construction. At the federal level, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have endorsed a bill proposing a moratorium on new data center construction and upgrades, a stance that contrasts with the Trump administration's encouragement for streamlined AI infrastructure development.