Owner of Jay Mill wants exemption from data center proposal

The Maine Legislature is currently reviewing a bill that proposes a temporary moratorium on data center projects across the state. State Representative Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport), the bill's sponsor, emphasized that the measure aims to ensure transparency for communities and establish a clear regulatory framework and necessary infrastructure before further data center development proceeds. This legislative action could significantly impact a planned data center at the former Jay Mill. Tony McDonald, the owner of the Jay Mill, intends to break ground on a new data center this summer. McDonald is seeking an exemption from the proposed moratorium, highlighting the site's robust existing electrical infrastructure from its paper mill days, which he describes as "plug-and-play" for a data center. The legislative committee's minority report includes provisions for such exemptions, while the majority report does not. The bill is expected to face votes in both the House and Senate as early as Thursday, leaving the project's future uncertain.