Map Shows States Eyeing Data Center Bans as Maine Governor Weighs Halt

Maine Governor Janet Mills is currently weighing a bill, LD 307, that passed the state legislature in April, which proposes a temporary halt on the construction of new AI data centers requiring more than 20 megawatts of energy until November 2027. The bill, sponsored by State Representative Melanie Sachs of Freeport, aims to provide time to evaluate the impact of these facilities on ratepayers, grid reliability, natural resources, and local communities. Mills has not yet indicated whether she will sign or veto the bill. This legislative action in Maine is part of a broader national trend, with lawmakers in several other states also pushing for similar moratoriums on data center development. While proponents emphasize economic benefits like job creation and tax revenue, critics, including environmental advocacy groups like Food & Water Watch, voice significant concerns over the industry's soaring energy consumption, substantial water demands for cooling, and conversion of land, arguing that these factors contribute to rising electricity rates and environmental degradation. Efforts to enact similar bans have seen mixed results; proposals failed in Georgia and South Dakota, while bills are actively being considered in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Notably, Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer has expressed support for data center development, cautioning against bans. On a national level, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Moratorium Act, advocating for a federal pause on AI development until safety and environmental safeguards are established. President Donald Trump has also acknowledged the public's concerns regarding data centers and electricity prices.