Advisory group asking for public input on future of data centers in Maine

The Maine Data Center Advisory Council will hold two virtual listening sessions with the public in the coming weeks.

Gov. Janet Mills created the group with an executive order this spring, and tasked members with evaluating issues related to large-scale data centers and providing strategic input on policies to address the potential benefits and drawbacks of data centers. 

The first listening session will be held Thursday at 1 p.m., and the second will be Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m.

The council has held four public meetings since its creation, with informational presentations on a variety of topics, but public input has been limited to online surveys. The listening sessions will allow attendees to offer comments on the council’s work. 

The council was originally proposed as part of a bill that would have banned data centers larger than 20 megawatts until November 2027 — which would have been the first such moratorium in the nation. 

But Mills vetoed the bill, citing a proposed data center project in Jay that she supported, and said she wanted an exemption process for similar projects. The company involved in the Jay project has since pulled out, putting the project on hold indefinitely. 

The status of other proposed data center projects vary. Earlier this year, projects in Lewiston and Wiscasset were halted after local pushback, and others have faced varying delays as local governments consider their own moratoriums.

The council’s final report to the governor and Legislature must be completed by January 29, 2027.