Maine Gov. vetoes legislation that would have blocked construction of data centers
News Clip2:06PEP Radio·Jay, Franklin County, ME·4/25/2026
Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have temporarily blocked new data center construction statewide, specifically to allow a project in Jay to proceed. She cited concerns about inhibiting economic revitalization in the struggling town and highlighted the jobs and tax revenue the data center would bring. Mills also committed to forming a state council to study data center impacts and signed a separate bill preventing data centers from receiving state business development tax incentives.
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Gov: Maine Governor, Town of Jay
Maine Gov. vetoes bill that would have blocked construction of data centers
From the PEP Radio Newsroom, we have this news, …
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has vetoed a bill that would have temporarily blocked new data centers in the state, citing concerns it would inhibit the current construction of a data center in a struggling mill town.
Mills said in a Friday statement that the legislation would impact a planned data center in the town of Jay, which has faced a blow to its local economy after the Androscoggin Mill closed in 2023.
“This project — which is now under contract and which has received several permits — is expected to create more than 800 construction jobs, at least 100 high-paying permanent jobs, and would contribute substantial property tax revenue to the Town of Jay," the statement read. "The project developers are committed to revitalizing the mill site by utilizing its existing industrial buildings, water, and electrical infrastructure to avoid the adverse impacts cited in the bill, including impacts to ratepayers."
Still, Mills said she would move forward with creating a state council to analyze the effects of data centers in Maine, something that was initially called for in the vetoed legislation. The governor also noted Friday that she had signed a different bill that prevents data center projects from benefiting from the state's business development tax incentive program.
"I believe it necessary and important to examine and plan for the potential impacts of large-scale data centers in Maine, as the use of artificial intelligence becomes more widespread," she said in her statement. "Given the serious conversations about data centers here and around the country, I believe this work should commence without delay."
That’s what we know for now. From the PEP Radio Newsroom, I’m David Moore.
Posted: April 25, 2026, at 12:00 AM EDT