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Maine lawmakers pass the first statewide ban on large data centers

Posted on 4/15/26 at 1:50 pm
Posted by ragincajun03
Member since Nov 2007
29018 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 1:50 pm
quote:

Maine lawmakers passed the nation’s first statewide ban on large data centers Tuesday in what they say is an attempt to buy time and study how the power-hungry facilities affect the electrical grid.

The bill, passed by both chambers of the Maine legislature on Tuesday, would enact an 18-month moratorium on new data centers harnessing more than 20 megawatts of power — enough to power more than 16,000 homes — to give a task force time to study risks and benefits.

Maine state Rep. Melanie Sachs, who sponsored the bill, said on Facebook that the measure “is a thoughtful, proactive step to make sure our regulatory framework is in place. Maine people deserve no less.”

The bill now heads for a signature or veto by Gov. Janet Mills, who had pushed for an amendment that would allow for a small data center in the town of Jay; town officials encouraged Mills to veto the bill if no amendments were made.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there needs to be a carveout for Jay. Jay needs those jobs, with appropriate guardrails for conserving water resources, electricity resources,” Mills said April 10.

While state lawmakers debated adding exceptions to the bill that could have aided data center projects such as the one in Jay, they ultimately rejected those amendments.


LINK
Posted by Long Ball Larry
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2021
1602 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 2:00 pm to
quote:

Maine state Rep. Melanie Sachs, who sponsored the bill, said on Facebook that the measure “is a thoughtful, proactive step to make sure our regulatory framework is in place. Maine people deserve no less.”


she used Facebook to announce her disdain for datcenter companies like Facebook
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
138944 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 2:38 pm to
Good.
Posted by Chucktown_Badger
The banks of the Ashley River
Member since May 2013
36738 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 2:46 pm to
What's the point of the ban? Serious question. These types of proposals can be considered one by one based on the specifics of each. Feels like another instance of government needlessly trying to pick winners.
Posted by bad93ex
Walnut Cove
Member since Sep 2018
35829 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 2:50 pm to
quote:

What's the point of the ban? Serious question


There isn't, it's all performative
Posted by cbree88
South Louisiana
Member since Feb 2010
10373 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 2:55 pm to
Maine doing stupid things as usual

I guess they don’t like big companies establishing a presence in their state and creating job opportunities.
Posted by Oilfieldbiology
Member since Nov 2016
42120 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:13 pm to
quote:

I guess they don’t like big companies establishing a presence in their state and creating job opportunities.

I’d be willing to bet this has been the case for a long time in Maine.
Posted by Stat M Repairman
Member since Jun 2023
2522 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:17 pm to


What if the data centers were designed, constructed and operated by women in STEM?
Posted by Chucktown_Badger
The banks of the Ashley River
Member since May 2013
36738 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:18 pm to
Data centers don't usually employ a ton of people but you can also be creative with how you handle them such that the money extracted from Facebook or whomever justifies having it there.
Posted by GreatLakesTiger24
Member since May 2012
60304 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:27 pm to
no billboards and no data centers? Maine is a great state that actually at least pretends to care about its people.
Posted by keks tadpole
Yellow Leaf Creek
Member since Feb 2017
8639 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:30 pm to
They should be banning illegal marijuana grow-houses run by Chinese mafia.
Posted by Stat M Repairman
Member since Jun 2023
2522 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:43 pm to


These data center protesters are the same as the no nuclear power protesters of the 70s and 80s.

They wrong then and they wrong now.
Posted by NIH
Member since Aug 2008
122185 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:47 pm to
They’re a drain on resources for something being used to cut jobs
Posted by Dixie2023
Member since Mar 2023
5062 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 3:48 pm to
Good. The only reason anyone looking at Louisiana is bc we are a loser state with crooked officials whose pockets can be lined. I’m going to look into solar as I refuse to pay exorbitant bills for these expansions and extra power plants being approved today. Or just may leave after retiring in a few.
Posted by SM6
Georgia
Member since Jul 2008
8954 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 4:34 pm to
Utility rates in the NE are astronomical, among the highest in the nation. No data center is seriously looking at Maine, it is performative.

That said, our economy needs something to differentiate us and sustain our quality of life. We are largely a services economy now, manufacturing long ago flew the coop. Technology is one avenue we can continue to lead the world in and hopefully maintain our standard of living (despite the massive debt we have saddled future generations with).

We need bold leadership exploring nuclear power, technology, and informatics. Instead we are saddled with a cacophony of dipshits that are more concerned with identity politics, cashing that AIPAC check, and whitewashing the Epstein files.

If this is the best we as an electorate can do, we deserve the shite we end up in. I hate it for my kids.
Posted by GreatLakesTiger24
Member since May 2012
60304 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 4:35 pm to
quote:

They should be banning illegal marijuana grow-houses run by Chinese mafia.

I've been following that guy (Steve Robinson) for years. I'm glad Tucker gave his work some shine. Really crazy stuff
Posted by MorbidTheClown
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2015
75816 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 5:00 pm to
Maybe data centers should ban Maine?
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
75075 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 5:16 pm to
It's like New Jersey banning alligator hunting. The people of this state aren't going to take it anymore! They are going to crack down! They will make a task force!!

If you get caught shooting an alligator in New Jersey, it's straight to jail mister!

Posted by jivy26
Member since Nov 2008
2858 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 5:23 pm to
quote:

What's the point of the ban? Serious question. These types of proposals can be considered one by one based on the specifics of each. Feels like another instance of government needlessly trying to pick winners.



It is likely the same type of people who cried about pipelines and fracking. Also I do remember people complaining about cellphone towers as well, but here we are.
Posted by Auburn1968
NYC
Member since Mar 2019
26284 posts
Posted on 4/15/26 at 6:02 pm to
In a state as poor as Maine, perhaps they should have just have mandated that any large data center was required to provide their own power. Other than that, it's a lot of jobs.

Once drove down the roads in Maine from Moosehead Lake down the center of the state. It was very poor showing a lot of signs of poverty. Cars very old, some up on blocks, houses with paint falling off, broken fences, un-mowed lawns and such. Then things started looking up and getting better. At a one stoplight intersection there was a very old fish canning factory that was still in business. After that, the relative economic stability faded back out as we travelled on.

That decrepit old factory radiated economic stability for what looked like 30 or some miles in all directions.
This post was edited on 4/15/26 at 6:30 pm
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