Maine governor weighs signing statewide pause on large data centers

In short: Maine lawmakers passed a bill to temporarily stop approvals for very large data centers, and Gov. Janet Mills has not decided whether to sign it.

What happened

Maine’s Legislature passed LD 307, a bill that would create a statewide moratorium, meaning a temporary pause, on approving some large data centers. Data centers are big buildings full of computers that store and process online information, like a warehouse for the internet.

The bill would block new approvals for data centers that need 20 megawatts or more of electricity for 18 months, running to October 2027. Supporters say the pause would give the state time to set clearer rules, because communities have raised concerns about higher electricity rates, heavy water use, and environmental impacts.

Gov. Janet Mills has not rejected the bill as of April 10 to April 21, 2026. She has said she has reservations because the bill does not include an exemption for a proposed $550 million project in Jay, a mill town that has struggled since a 2020 paper mill explosion. Mills said Jay needs jobs, and she suggested the project could employ hundreds of local workers, while still requiring safeguards for local resources.

Mills has until about April 25 to 26 to sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without her signature. Her office has said she remains undecided, and local leaders in Jay and Franklin County have urged her to veto the bill.

Why it matters

This decision could affect how quickly big computer facilities move into Maine, and what that means for power bills, local water supplies, and jobs. It also highlights a common tradeoff, a statewide pause can protect resources, but it can also slow a project that a struggling town is counting on.

Source: NYTimes