Wiscasset selectman suggests town vote on temp ban on data centers

Wiscasset Selectman Heather Jones has proposed a six-month moratorium, or temporary ban, on data center development, intending to place it on the November ballot. This initiative follows significant public interest and concerns voiced during her campaign, particularly after a data center firm expressed interest in a town-owned property on Old Ferry Road a year prior.

The proposed moratorium highlights the inadequacy of Wiscasset's current ordinances to address the potential impacts of large-scale data centers on the local electric grid, water supply, wastewater capacity, noise levels, light pollution, visual character, traffic, and overall quality of life. The draft states that without careful study and the adoption of appropriate local standards, data center development could impose substantial and potentially irreversible burdens on the town's infrastructure, natural resources, ratepayers, and residents.

Town Manager Dennis Simmons supports the proposal, framing it as a cautious approach to ensure the town understands the implications and establishes proper regulations before any projects advance. This town-wide moratorium would strengthen a de facto pause already in place on two town-owned properties, Mason Station and Old Ferry Road. The proposal will undergo a public comment period, a public hearing on Sept. 1, and if certified, another hearing before the Nov. 3 town vote.

A citizens' group, Protect Wiscasset, led by Richard Davis, issued a press release encouraging public attendance at the Aug. 18 meeting. The group aims to inform and educate residents about proposed hyperscale data center development in Wiscasset and advocate for responsible development of town-owned properties.