Why this conservative Maine town is trying to ban data centers

Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, is on the verge of enacting a six-month moratorium on large-scale data center construction, joining several other rural towns in the state responding to concerns about the facilities' environmental impact. The local initiative, supported by the town's Climate Action Advisory Committee chair Carole Boothroyd and advised by Maine Conservation Voters, aims to provide time to understand the impacts of data centers on local infrastructure, particularly water and electricity consumption. This local movement gained momentum after Governor Janet Mills vetoed a proposed statewide moratorium earlier this spring, prompting towns to address the issue independently.

Stephen Grammont, Chair of the Dover-Foxcroft Select Board, acknowledged that while the town is not a likely location for a mega data center due to limited infrastructure, local anxieties about unexpected data center developments are legitimate. Maine Conservation Voters, a key advocate for stricter regulations, expressed disappointment over the Governor's veto and is actively assisting communities in drafting local policies. The group is also preparing new legislation for the upcoming legislative session, with gubernatorial candidates Bobby Charles, Hannah Pingree, and Rick Bennett all indicating support for future data center moratoriums. The proposed ban in Dover-Foxcroft is seen as a bipartisan effort to protect the town's interests.