Rep. Walter “Gerry” Runte (D-York) appears to have accidentally CC’d all state representatives on a lengthy email on Monday where he expressed his displeasure that a University of Maine official supported Gov. Janet Mills’ (D-Maine) veto of a moratorium on AI data center development in the state.
Democrats in both the House and Senate voted to pass LD 307, a bill to temporarily ban the development of any new data center projects in the state. In a surprise decision, Gov. Mills vetoed the moratorium, citing concerns that it would stifle a development project at the former Androscoggin Mill in Jay.
Rep. Runte is not happy with that decision, and an email from University of Maine System Chief External and Governmental Affairs Officer Samantha Warren in support of the governor’s decision prompted him to send a lengthy response to one of Mills’ Deputy Chiefs of Staff, Tom Abello.
“UMaine officials acknowledge they ‘apologize for not engaging in the legislative process’ and that ‘we likely would have advocated for a research-related exemption.’ The appropriate response is not to veto the bill, but to consider a narrow, accountable research exemption in the next session or through follow-up legislation. If such an exemption for qualifying university research computing is warranted, it should be discussed on the Legislature’s terms, not in response to a letter sent after the deadline,” said Runte.
The Maine Wire did not obtain the UMaine email Runte references, but his email, sent to the entire House, was forwarded to us.
Runte used his letter to attempt to rebut some of the UMaine System’s concerns that a moratorium on data centers would have a negative impact on the university system.
“For these reasons, I do not believe the concerns raised in her email justify a veto of LD 307. The bill creates the space Maine needs to get this right before large, irreversible commitments are made. If a research-specific pathway is warranted, we should develop it deliberately and transparently through the legislative process, with clear standards and safeguards. That approach protects both Maine’s long-term interests and UMaine’s ability to compete,” said Runte.
It is not clear why Runte took the time to send a Mills staffer his lengthy rebuttal days after the governor already announced her decision and vetoed the bill.
Who says it was accidental?