8 more Maine towns adopt data center bans in lopsided elections
Voters in at least eight Maine towns approved bans on new data centers, including a permanent prohibition in North Berwick and 180-day moratoriums in seven other communities. The local measures follow Gov. Janet Mills’ veto of a statewide moratorium and reflect concerns about data centers’ potential effects on electricity and water costs.
Voters in at least eight Maine towns approved restrictions on new data center development. North Berwick adopted a permanent ban with 78% support, while Freedom, Wells, Eliot, Peru, Brownfield, Wiscasset and Sabattus approved 180-day moratoriums intended to give officials time to consider broader regulations. Support ranged from about 70% to nearly 82%. In Wiscasset, the vote followed an unsuccessful 2025 effort to develop a data center.
The votes came after Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a statewide moratorium, which she said would have affected a proposed project in Jay that later fell through. Gov.-elect Hannah Pingree has said she would sign a statewide ban, while environmental groups are preparing data center regulation proposals for the upcoming legislative session. Voters cited concerns about electricity and water use, although some residents said they had little prior awareness of the local measures or supported data centers.