Maine’s proposed data center moratorium could scuttle project at Jay mill
News ClipThe Portland Press Herald·Jay, Franklin County, ME·3/14/2026
The development of a data center as part of the revitalization of the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine is threatened by pending state legislation that would impose a moratorium on new data centers for over a year. The developer argues the data center would not negatively impact local resources, but the bill's sponsor says it is designed to address the potential impacts of future data center growth.
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Gov: Maine Legislature, Freeport, Department of Energy Resources
Maine is considering a moratorium on new data centers, which could impact a planned data center project at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay. The developers of the Jay project, JGT2 Redevelopment, say their data center would not strain local resources like power and water, unlike the "hyperscaler" data centers that have raised concerns. The proposed moratorium bill would create a council to study the impacts of data centers in Maine, but the developers hope to be exempted since their project is already well underway and not expected to negatively affect the local area.