Gorham officials consider permanent ban on data centers
Gorham, Maine, officials are considering a permanent ban on data centers, following a temporary moratorium enacted in June. Town councilors unanimously voted to have the planning board schedule a public hearing and explore changing the town's land use code to implement the permanent ban. Councilors expressed concerns that data centers do not provide meaningful community benefits.
Gorham, Maine, officials are actively pursuing a permanent ban on data centers, building on a temporary moratorium passed in June. The Gorham Town Council recently voted unanimously to direct the town's planning board to schedule a public hearing. The objective is to determine if the town's land use and development code should be amended to establish a permanent prohibition on data center construction.
Town Councilors Steven Siegel and Lou Simms vocalized their skepticism regarding the benefits of data centers. Siegel stated he had "yet to see a community, a single community, that's been happy that a data center is there," while Simms characterized data centers as "boogeyman" corporate entities that extract value without offering significant local advantages. While Gorham has not yet received any data center proposals, the move reflects a broader regional trend, with other Maine municipalities like North Berwick preparing to vote on similar permanent bans.
This local push to restrict data centers contrasts with a statewide development earlier this year, when Governor Janet Mills vetoed legislation that would have established a statewide moratorium. Furthermore, the local sentiment diverges from the views of national political figures such as former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom have publicly supported data center development, with Trump warning that communities blocking them would become "backwards and poor."