Maine lawmakers approve first-in-nation temporary ban on data centers

The Maine Legislature on Tuesday passed a controversial measure temporarily prohibiting new data center development for more than a year, sending it to Gov. Janet Mills for final approval.

The bill, LD 307, would create a limitation on data centers with electric loads of at least 20 megawatts by preventing the state, local governments and quasi-governmental agencies from issuing permits or other approvals until November 2027. In the meantime, a new Data Center Coordination Council — also created in the bill — would get time to study the centers' potential impact in Maine and issue policy recommendations.