Maine towns are passing moratoriums on data centers. Why hasn’t South Portland?
South Portland has not enacted a temporary moratorium on data centers, unlike several neighboring Maine towns. City officials state that existing regulations and limited suitable land parcels make a moratorium unnecessary for now. Any future data center proposals would face rigorous review regarding water and electricity consumption.
South Portland has opted against implementing a temporary moratorium on data center development, distinguishing itself from nearby Maine municipalities such as Westbrook, Scarborough, Sanford, Brunswick, and Gorham, which have enacted such pauses. According to City Manager Scott Morelli, city staff determined an explicit moratorium is currently unnecessary, and no city councilors have proposed a related discussion. Planning Director Milan Nevajda noted that South Portland, being largely built out, lacks readily available large parcels of land (60-200 acres) suitable for data centers, particularly those zoned for industrial use and with proximity to adequate infrastructure.
While some calls have been received from permitting agencies on behalf of potential developers, no formal applications have been submitted. Nevajda pointed out two possible sites, the Sable Oaks Golf Course and land near Rigby Yard, but highlighted constraints: the golf course is zoned for residential development and identified for housing, while the Rigby Yard land contains wetlands. The city's existing protective water and utility standards, he emphasized, would subject any data center application to rigorous scrutiny by the Planning Board.
Applicants would need to demonstrate sufficient water availability without burdening Sebago Lake, the city's water source, and prove the constrained electrical grid could handle increased load, potentially requiring them to fund new substations. Despite public perception that large tech companies can navigate regulatory processes easily, Nevajda stated that Maine's Planning Boards hold significant interpretative authority, placing the burden of proof squarely on the applicant to comply with regulations.