AUGUSTA – The Maine House voted Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport, that would institute a moratorium on the construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and create the Maine Data Center Coordination Council to assist towns with future implementation. The vote was 82-62, with bipartisan support.
“AI data centers are increasingly drawn to locations with available land and strong connectivity, qualities that Maine is well positioned to provide. But if these centers aren’t thoughtfully planned and coordinated, they can place extraordinary demands on electric infrastructure, the surrounding environment and host communities,” said Sachs. “Implementing a pause and creating this council will give us the time and space to evaluate how these data centers may affect ratepayers, grid reliability, natural resources and local communities. This legislation will position Maine to respond deliberately and responsibly to a rapidly evolving industry.”
As amended, LD 307 would temporarily prohibit any municipality, state agency or quasi-independent state entity from accepting an application for – or issuing – a permit, certificate or other approval for the development, construction or operation of a data center with a load of 20 megawatts. The moratorium would last until Nov. 1, 2027.
The bill would also require the Department of Energy Resources to convene the Maine Data Center Coordination Council to provide input and facilitate planning related to AI data centers and their potential benefits and risks to Maine. The council would be expected to submit a final report to the Legislature by Feb. 1, 2027, illustrating the findings of its evaluation and accompanied recommendations. Currently, there are no large-scale AI data centers in Maine, but high-profile projects have been revealed in recent weeks, including in Sanford and Jay.
The bill faces further votes in the House and Senate in the coming days.
Sachs is serving her third term in the Maine House and represents Freeport. She serves as House chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Sachs) | 305-965-2744