A planned Maine data center could be canceled due to legislation that would ban such projects in the state, developers say.
The facility is set to be built at the site of a former paper mill belonging to International Paper in Jay, a town in Franklin County.
Developer JGT2 Redevelopment has reportedly reached a deal with Sentinel Data Centers to occupy 1 million square feet, according to DataCenterDynamics.com.
However, the project may now be under threat due to the proposed bill, sponsored by state Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Feeeport.
The bill includes a two-year to development moratorium while the impacts of large data centers are studied and more stringent controls are put in place.
Speaking to Bangor Daily News, Tony McDonald, who works for one of the project partners – Boulos Co. – said the “moratorium would be disastrous for us.”
The bill comes after Lewiston and Wiscasset halted proposed data centers amid public opposition due to their alleged lack of safety and use of water and other resources.
The legislation also could threaten a $300 million project proposed in Sanford and another proposal for Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine, according to Bangor Daily News.
Lawmakers voted earlier this month to advance the bill that would temporarily stop new data centers across the state.
“These data centers as we have seen in other states have impacts for grid resilience, they have impacts for environmental resources, so we just wanted to take a proactive approach and do it unlike any other state has so far,” Sachs was quoted by Maine Public.
Sen. Matt Harrington, R-Sanford, said a development ban would endanger a new data center planned for his district.
“You’re completely blindsiding this business,” Harrington said.
Democrats Trying To Scuttle Planned Data Centers, GOP Fights Development Ban
By Ted Cohen
