Ellsworth City Council approves data center moratorium
Ellsworth, Maine, has enacted a 180-day moratorium on data center development, following a 4-1 vote by the City Council. This temporary ban will allow the city's Planning Department to study the potential impacts of data centers and develop appropriate regulatory standards, as current ordinances lack specific provisions for such facilities. The move mirrors actions by other Maine municipalities after a proposed statewide moratorium was vetoed by Governor Janet Mills.
The Ellsworth City Council in Maine has unanimously voted to enact a 180-day moratorium on data center development, effective immediately. The decision, passed 4-1 with Councilor Steve O’Halloran opposed and two members absent, aims to provide the city with time to assess the potential impacts of data centers on public facilities, infrastructure, and the quality of life for residents. The moratorium prohibits city officials and boards from acting on any data center-related permit applications during its term, which is set to expire in mid-February 2027, with an option for extension.
This action follows a recommendation from the city’s Planning Department, which highlighted the absence of specific data center standards in existing city ordinances. Councilor Marinna Smith emphasized the need for this pause, stating it would allow the city to address ordinances based on citizen feedback, ecological, and infrastructure concerns. The move by Ellsworth mirrors similar actions taken by other Maine communities, such as Bangor and Brunswick, after Governor Janet Mills vetoed a bill earlier this year that would have imposed a temporary statewide ban on data center development.