Maine Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a legislative proposal that would have temporarily frozen permits for new data center construction across the state, according to TechCrunch.
The veto effectively kills L.D. 307, a bill that would have implemented the first statewide moratorium on new data centers in the United States. If enacted, the freeze would have remained in place until November 1, 2027.
Beyond the permit halt, the legislation sought to establish a 13-person council tasked with studying the industry and providing recommendations regarding future data center construction.
Local project exemption drove veto
In a letter addressed to the state legislature, Mills—a Democrat currently campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat—explained her reasoning for rejecting the measure. She stated that pausing new developments would be "appropriate given the impacts of massive data and centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates."
However, the Governor noted that her support was contingent on a specific exception. Mills said she "would have signed this bill" if it had included a carve-out for a planned data center project in the Town of Jay.
According to the report, Mills argued that the Jay project "enjoys strong local support from its host community and region."
The veto comes as public opposition to large-scale data centers grows, with other states like New York weighing similar moratoriums.
Melanie Sachs, a Democratic state representative and sponsor of the bill, warned that the Governor's decision carries high stakes for the state's infrastructure. Sachs told TechCrunch that the veto "poses significant potential consequences for all ratepayers, our electric grid, our environment, and our shared energy future."
