Jay data center derailed: Town manager disappointed by developer's decision to back out of project
Sentinel Data Centers has withdrawn plans for a data center at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine, jeopardizing hundreds of jobs. This decision follows a gubernatorial veto of a statewide data center moratorium and concerns about potential future bans and high energy usage.
Sentinel Data Centers has officially backed out of its plans to develop a data center at the former Androscoggin Mill site in Jay, Maine. This decision puts an estimated 800 temporary construction jobs and 100 permanent positions at risk. Jay Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere expressed disappointment over the lost opportunity for the community.
The withdrawal comes amidst ongoing concerns about high energy consumption and potential negative environmental impacts associated with data centers. During the last legislative session, Maine lawmakers passed a temporary moratorium on data center construction, but Governor Janet Mills subsequently vetoed it. Mills cited the advanced stage of the Jay project as a reason for her veto, as the bill did not include an exception for Jay.
Despite the governor's veto, groups like "Our Power" criticized Mills' decision, alleging that Sentinel had lobbied with "big talk and false promises" and that the veto was based on "misinformation," leaving Maine communities vulnerable. A spokesperson for JGT2, the company owning the former mill site, indicated that potential customers for the data center were apprehensive about the possibility of future data center bans in Maine. JGT2 is now exploring alternative development options for the site.