Maine Governor Vetoes Nation's First Proposed Statewide Data Center Moratorium Bill

Maine Governor Janet Mills has vetoed L.D. 307, a bill that would have imposed the nation's first statewide moratorium on new data center construction until November 1, 2027. Governor Mills, a Democrat, stated her support for the bill's intent but withheld her signature due to its failure to exempt a planned $550 million data center at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay, a project she noted has strong local backing. The proposed legislation also called for the creation of a 13-member council to investigate the infrastructure and energy impacts of data centers. While vetoing the bill, Governor Mills announced her intention to form a similar commission through an executive order. The bill's sponsor, State Representative Melanie Sachs (D), expressed concern that the veto could have significant consequences for ratepayers, the electric grid, and the environment, citing the state's own AI Task Force recommendation for a data center development response plan.