Would Maine’s next governor sign a moratorium on new data centers?
Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed a bill to enact a statewide moratorium on data center development, initially citing a specific project in Jay that later lost developer support. Now, leading gubernatorial candidates for 2026 are expressing support for such a moratorium, citing concerns over environmental impacts, electricity consumption, and water usage. Meanwhile, some local communities, like Sanford, have already enacted their own temporary moratoriums.
Governor Janet Mills, Maine’s term-limited outgoing governor, recently vetoed LD 307, a bill that sought to implement a statewide moratorium on new data center development. Mills justified her veto by stating the bill failed to exempt a proposed $550 million data center project at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay, which she believed would promote reinvestment and job creation. This justification was disputed by some Democrats who had largely supported the moratorium in the Maine Legislature. Despite the governor's reasoning, Sentinel Data Centers, the developer behind the Jay project, subsequently withdrew its support in early June.
With the Jay project now on hold, a state council expected to release a report on data center impacts by next year, and Governor Mills's term concluding in January, the question of a statewide moratorium has become a key issue for the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial election. The Portland Press Herald surveyed the major candidates on whether they would sign a similar moratorium bill if passed again by the Legislature. Democrat Hannah Pingree, a front-runner and former member of Mills's administration, stated she would have signed the moratorium due to concerns about potential negative health and environmental impacts, including noise, significant water usage for cooling, and strain on the electricity grid. She emphasized the need for strong environmental regulations and rules for data centers to produce their own energy, referencing issues seen in states like Virginia and Texas.
Republican nominee Bobby Charles also affirmed he would sign a temporary moratorium to allow for more understanding of data centers' impacts on electricity draw and water use, particularly on Maine's rivers. He criticized the current administration for an "under-capitalized power grid" and vowed not to accept campaign contributions from data center proposers, citing his "conservationist" stance. Rick Bennett, an unenrolled state Senate member, who previously voted for LD 307, echoed support for a moratorium, stressing the need for the state to thoughtfully develop rules around data centers to address their negative effects on shared resources like water and electricity. He also implied criticism of how Governor Mills managed the bill through the legislative process. In the absence of a statewide ban, some local communities, such as Sanford, have already enacted their own temporary moratoriums, including a 91-day pause on a 1,000-acre project.