Maine to establish a data center advisory council

Following a legislative vote to uphold her veto on a proposed data center moratorium bill, Maine Governor Janet Mills has signed an executive order to create a new advisory council. This council is tasked with developing recommendations for how large-scale data center projects can proceed in the state without negatively affecting Mainers. The newly established 15-member group will focus specifically on protecting ratepayers, minimizing environmental impacts, and fostering economic development. The executive order comes just hours after the State Legislature upheld Governor Mills' veto, effectively rejecting a bill that sought to implement a temporary pause on data center developments across Maine.