On June 3, 2026, the Maine Data Center Advisory Council, established via executive order by Gov. Janet Mills (D) earlier this year, will hold its first meeting.
The council will continue to meet throughout the year before delivering a report to the governor and legislature at the end of January 2027.
In April, Gov. Mills created the Data Center Advisory Council in the wake of backlash from fellow Democrats over her decision to veto a controversial moratorium on data center construction.
“It is necessary, important and urgent that the State plan for potential impacts of large-scale data centers on our state, given the serious conversations about them here and around the country. Through this order, this work starts today,” said Gov. Mills at the time.
“I look forward to this Council’s work to examine the serious questions and concerns about data center development in Maine and provide recommendations about how best to protect our environment and ratepayers while providing for responsible economic development that benefits communities,” she added.
Mills signed this executive order just hours after the majority of state representatives voted to overturn her veto of LD 307 but failed to meet the two-thirds majority necessary to successfully override her opposition.
Had it been approved, the bill would have placed a moratorium on new data center construction in the state.
The order establishes an advisory council, comprised of members from a range of governmental offices and industries and groups, that will be required to provide input on and evaluate policy related to data centers.
“The Council shall evaluate issues related to large-scale data centers located or proposed to be located in the State, with the goals of protecting ratepayers, maintaining electric grid reliability, minimizing environmental impacts, and enabling responsible and appropriately sited economic development,” says the order.
The council will be required to evaluate data center projects in light of the state’s green energy and environmental policies. In January, the council will be responsible for providing a strategic report to the legislature.
The order also instructs the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to work to prevent data center development from increasing costs for energy ratepayers.
[RELATED: Mills Establishes Data Center Advisory Council Amid Backlash Following Her Veto]
The DOER announced Wednesday that the council will hold its first meeting early next month.
“Through this Council, we will take a careful look at how large-scale data center development could affect energy demand and costs for Maine people, as well as opportunities to mitigate potential impacts,” said Co-Chair Celina Cunningham, the Acting Commissioner of the DOER. “I look forward to moving this work ahead with the other members in a transparent and accessible way.”
“The Council will review Maine’s existing environmental regulations pertaining to large-scale data center development to understand safeguards currently in place as well as opportunities to strengthen them,” said Co-Chair Melanie Loyzim, the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
DEP is committed to ensuring this process gives those interests the serious attention they warrant, with opportunities for public input to shape recommendations,” Loyzim added.
Meetings of the Maine Data Center Advisory Council will be open to the public.
The first meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026, from 9:30am-12pm via Zoom. Click here for meeting details and registration.
