Gov. Mills vetoes first-in-nation data center moratorium passed by Maine Legislature
Maine Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a first-in-nation bill that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on data center construction across the state. The bill aimed to create a council to ensure Maine's infrastructure, including power, is ready for data centers. Governor Mills cited the economic benefits of a data center project at the Jay Paper Mill, which she wanted exempted, as a key reason for her veto.
Maine Governor Janet Mills announced her veto of a bill that sought to establish a one-year moratorium on data center development within the state. The legislation, which had been approved by the Maine Legislature, also proposed the creation of a council of experts to study data centers and assess the state's readiness concerning necessary infrastructure.
Governor Mills had previously expressed a desire for an exemption for the Jay Paper Mill, where a data center project is slated to begin construction this summer. In her veto letter, she dedicated approximately half the content to discussing the Jay project, emphasizing that it would generate over 800 construction jobs for the region. The veto signals the rejection of the proposed statewide pause on data center construction.