Trump policies delay data center project at former Maine paper mill site in Jay
A data center project in Jay, Maine, aimed at redeveloping a former paper mill, is experiencing delays due to international tensions and tariffs from former President Trump's policies. These policies are preventing the removal of old mill machinery crucial for construction. Despite a statewide moratorium being vetoed by Governor Mills and general opposition to data centers, Jay's Select Board approved the project, which is seen as vital for the town's economy.
The Bangor Daily News reports that a data center project in Jay, Maine, intended to revive the former Androscoggin Mill site, faces delays due to international tensions and tariffs tied to former President Donald Trump's policies. A Pakistani company, which purchased the retired paper machinery, cannot remove it to allow construction to begin because Iran has blocked ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz since a war started in late February. This marks the second time Trump's policies have impeded the mill's redevelopment, following a prior project's collapse due to tariffs.
Despite the economic importance of the project to Jay, it has been controversial. Governor Janet Mills vetoed a proposed statewide moratorium on data centers, citing the Jay project's significance. While other Maine towns like Lewiston, Wiscasset, Sanford, Bangor, and Westbrook have seen data center proposals rejected, paused, or are considering moratoriums due to concerns over resource consumption, Jay's Select Board "greenlit" the project in March. Tony McDonald, owner of the mill site and a partner in The Boulos Co., is working with Sentinel Data Centers, a national company, to convert the site by year-end, though the deadline is now uncertain due to shipping delays. McDonald highlights the data center's lower electricity and water usage compared to the former mill.