Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) vetoed a bill that would have placed a temporary moratorium on the construction of AI data centers across the state until November 2027 after it passed through the Senate and House with Democratic support.
[RELATED: Temporary Block on AI Data Centers Heads to Gov. Janet Mills’ Desk, Faces Uncertain Future…]
“A moratorium is appropriate given the impacts of massive data centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates. But the final version of this bill fails to allow for a specific project in the Town of Jay that enjoys strong local support from its host community and region,” said Gov. Mills.
She explained that she would not have vetoed the bill, LD 307, if it had contained an exemption for a data center project at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay.
Critics of data center development typically cite concerns like increased energy costs for ratepayers, strains on the water system, and environmental damage, while proponents often point to potential economic boons and jobs brought by data center construction and operations.
Some projects, such as a proposed data center in Sanford, aim to address concerns by generating their own energy to avoid forcing ratepayers to subsidize their usage.
[RELATED: Sanford Data Center Plan Draws Concerns Despite Self-Generated Power Proposal…]
“Of course, any proposed data centers would be subject to federal and state energy interconnection requirements and Maine’s stringent and comprehensive environmental permitting standards. The Jay project—as well as any other proposed data center in Maine—would be required to comply with those standards to prevent harm to natural resources and water quality, as well as other existing regulations on traffic, noise, utility services, and more,” said Mills in her letter.
While Mills vetoed LD 307, she did sign LD 713, which would bar data centers from receiving some tax incentives provided to other businesses.
Mills also announced a veto of LD 1911, a “restorative justice” bill championed by Democrats that would allow the automatic sealing of criminal records for a variety of crimes, including drug offenses, if certain conditions are met.
“I also share the concerns expressed by the Maine Press Association and others that automatically sealing criminal records unduly burdens the First Amendment. A criminal conviction is the culmination of work by all three branches of government. The Legislature has enacted a statute prohibiting certain conduct, the Executive has prosecuted a violation of the statute, and the Judiciary has entered judgment,” said Mills.
“This process should be transparent, and records documenting this work should remain available and subject to public scrutiny except where there a compelling public interest exists to justify secrecy, as is true, for example, for juvenile cases,” she added.
Automatically seal the records, not unseal.
Who writes headlines for Maine wire?!?
“A moratorium is appropriate given the impacts of massive data centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates”
Since when do democrats care about any of this? My guess is the data centers have not paid off the democrats yet.
These energy gobblers should not even be connected to the grid.
Make them power themselves.
Court records are still public (knowledge) aren’t they? For like… background checks, for like… serious jobs. Now, if we’re talking give me the low down on such & so without the slow roll, that I may unload the firehose of shame with real facts on my next get out the vote/date rally, rather than look like a complete ass because I listened to joe shit the ragman on two faced book…..well, just the facts Mam. See! who needs “punked yo nation” punctuation. Someone git “The Kid” Rock a Billy on the phone…we might have some work forum. Que up Rockford files music…….2 hun (USD/day) plus expenses. MMMM and some french fried taters.