Sanford extends data center moratorium for 180 days
The Sanford City Council unanimously voted to extend an emergency moratorium on data centers for 180 days, moving its expiration to January 31. This extension halts a proposed data center project near the Mousam River and allows the Industrial Development Standards Task Force time to establish new ordinances and guardrails for future data center developments. The move follows citizen-led opposition aiming to protect the community from potential negative impacts of large-scale data centers.
The Sanford City Council in Maine has unanimously voted to extend an emergency moratorium on data center development for an additional 180 days, pushing its expiration to January 31. This extension supersedes a previous 91-day moratorium and effectively pauses a proposed data center project, known as the Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus, planned to cover over 1,000 acres near the Mousam River.
The initial moratorium was a direct result of citizen concern, designed to give the city time to create regulations protecting the community from potential adverse effects of large data centers. Mayor Becky Brink highlighted that the newly formed Industrial Development Standards Task Force, which includes Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy, City Councilor Cheeny Plante, representatives from various city departments, and four local residents, will review existing ordinances and propose new ones. Resident Alexander Clary, also a City Council candidate, noted "resounding opposition" to the proposed project.
Randy Gibbs, the primary developer for the Sanford Woods project, expressed support for the moratorium, stating his intent to develop responsibly and meet high standards. Sanford is part of a growing trend among municipalities nationwide that are either proactively strengthening ordinances or responding to proposed projects to manage data center growth. Governor Janet Mills recently vetoed a bill that would have imposed a statewide data center ban in Maine.
The task force aims to complete its work by the new moratorium's expiration, though Deputy Mayor Herlihy indicated that further extensions could be considered if necessary.