Rep. Runte CCs All State Reps on Email Arguing Against Mills' Veto of Data Center Moratorium

Rep. Walter "Gerry" Runte (D-York) inadvertently sent an email to all Maine state representatives, strongly criticizing Gov. Janet Mills' (D-Maine) recent veto of LD 307, a bill proposing a temporary moratorium on AI data center development across the state. The email, addressed to Mills' Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Abello, expressed Runte's displeasure with a University of Maine System official's support for the governor's veto. LD 307, which sought to temporarily ban new data center projects in Maine, had passed both the House and Senate with Democratic votes. However, Governor Mills vetoed the bill, citing concerns that it would hinder a specific development project planned for the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay. Runte contended that if research-related exemptions were needed for the University of Maine System, they should be debated and developed through the legislative process with clear standards, rather than justifying a veto of the entire bill. He argued that the moratorium would provide Maine with necessary time to establish proper regulations before large-scale commitments are made.