Maine Governor Vetoes Data Center Moratorium Bill

Source: Slashdot

Overview

Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have imposed the nation’s first statewide moratorium on new data centers. While she supported the idea in principle, Mills said she could not block a major redevelopment project tied to jobs and local investment—the $550 million data‑center redevelopment in the Town of Jay—and therefore chose to veto the measure.

Veto Details

• The veto was announced in a statement and an official veto message:
  • Governor Mills Announces Decision (LD‑307)
  • Full veto text: Veto Message (LD‑307)
• In the same legislative session, Mills signed a separate measure that denies data centers certain state tax incentives.

Council Creation

Mills announced that she will create a council to study the effects of data centers in Maine. The council’s purpose is to examine the economic and environmental impact of existing and future data‑center projects.

Legislative Context

• The proposed legislation would have made Maine the first state to block the construction of new data centers, reflecting a growing bipartisan debate over how voters view such projects ahead of the midterm elections.
• Politico reported that after prior redevelopment efforts failed, the Town of Jay worked for two years on the $550 million data‑center project to finally bring jobs and investment back to the mill site.
• In a statement accompanying her veto, the governor noted that she had signed a separate bill prohibiting data‑center projects from receiving Maine’s business development tax incentive programs.