'Must include an exemption': Gov. Mills weighs in on Jay mill data center exemption proposal

Governor Janet Mills' office announced her support for an exemption to a proposed statewide data center moratorium for a specific project at the former Jay Paper Mill site. The Governor believes that while the rapid growth of large-scale AI data centers warrants careful evaluation of impacts on public resources, the environment, and ratepayers, the Jay project is smaller-scale, reuses existing industrial infrastructure, and is designed to avoid new costs for ratepayers or strain on the local electrical grid. Mills' spokesperson emphasized that the project is expected to bring much-needed jobs, economic activity, and tax revenue to the region, and urged the Legislature to support local leaders who have worked to bring this "noncontroversial opportunity" to Jay. This announcement comes amidst debate in the Maine Legislature concerning a temporary data center moratorium, with Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, sponsoring LD 307. The bill, which aims to prepare Maine for data center infrastructure, advanced in the House by a vote of 80-62.