Sabattus residents to vote on data center moratorium
Sabattus residents will soon have the opportunity to vote on a proposed moratorium on data center development in town. The Select Board approved a special town meeting for the vote, which aims to allow the Planning Board to draft comprehensive regulations before any projects are proposed. This proactive measure follows similar actions by other Maine communities and a recently vetoed statewide moratorium.
The Sabattus Select Board has voted to hold a special town meeting, allowing residents to vote on a moratorium for data center development. Town Manager Raquel Welch-Day stated this is a proactive measure intended to enable the Planning Board to draft a comprehensive ordinance regulating data centers before any projects emerge in the town. Currently, there are minimal state or local regulations governing such developments.
This local initiative follows the Maine Legislature's attempt to pass a statewide data center moratorium earlier this year, which Governor Janet Mills ultimately vetoed due to the lack of an exemption for a now-abandoned project in Jay. Several other Maine communities, including Brunswick, Gorham, and Westbrook, have also begun enacting their own data center moratoriums to address regulatory gaps.
Data centers, facilities housing computers for data storage and online services, are experiencing increased demand driven by AI technology. While proponents highlight potential benefits like job creation and economic growth, opponents raise concerns about their significant consumption of resources such as water and electricity, which can lead to higher utility bills and environmental pollution. Notably, a proposed $300 million AI data center in Lewiston's Bates Mill complex faced strong opposition and was unanimously rejected by the City Council last December.