Overview
- Mills, who vetoed the bill Friday, said the moratorium risked derailing a permitted $550 million data center in Jay that local leaders support.
- The rejected measure would have halted approvals for facilities drawing more than 20 megawatts of power until November 2027 to study impacts.
- The governor said she will create a council by executive order to examine grid reliability, water use, noise, and local effects from large data centers.
- She also signed a separate law that blocks data center projects from using Maine’s business development tax incentives.
- Reactions split, with the Data Center Coalition calling the veto a signal that Maine welcomes investment and Food & Water Watch warning of higher electric bills and strain on communities as hyperscale sites grow.