Trending Now - Maine Governor Rejects Proposed Moratorium on Data Centers
WHO:
ABC News - Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills vetoed the bill.
ABC News - Rep. Melanie Sachs, a Democratic state representative, sponsored the bill.
The Portland Press Herald - Tony McDonald, the owner of the proposed data center project in Jay, expressed gratitude for the veto.
The Portland Press Herald - Seth Berry, executive director of Our Power, criticized Mills' decision.
The Portland Press Herald - Maureen Drouin, executive director of Maine Conservation Voters, condemned the veto.
WHAT:
ABC News - Governor Mills vetoed a bill that would have instituted a moratorium on data center construction.
Engadget - The vetoed bill would have blocked data centers consuming 20 megawatts of power or more until November 2027.
The Portland Press Herald - The vetoed bill was LD 307, which aimed to create a "Maine Data Center Coordination Council."
The Portland Press Herald - Mills signed LD 713, which prohibits data centers from participating in Maine’s business development tax incentive programs.
WHERE:
ABC News - The proposed data center is located in the town of Jay, Maine.
The Portland Press Herald - The former Androscoggin Mill in Jay is the site of the proposed data center redevelopment project.
WHEN:
ABC News - The bill was vetoed on Friday, April 22nd, 2026.
Engadget - The bill passed both houses of the Maine legislature on April 14th, 2026.
The Portland Press Herald - The proposed moratorium would have lasted until November 2027.
WHY:
ABC News - Mills vetoed the bill because it did not include an exemption for the data center project in Jay, which she argued would bring needed jobs to the community.
The Portland Press Herald - Mills stated that while a moratorium is appropriate, the final version of the bill failed to allow for a specific project in Jay that enjoys local support.
HOW:
ABC News - Mills plans to issue an executive order to create a council to examine the impact of data centers in Maine.
The Portland Press Herald - The veto allows the Jay project to move forward, with demolition set to begin in the second week of July 2026.
(UPDATED April 24, 2026 23:11 UTC)
Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would have imposed a moratorium on data center construction, which included a provision blocking projects consuming 20 megawatts of power or more until November 20th27. The veto allows a proposed data center project in Jay to proceed, with demolition scheduled to begin in July, and Mills emphasized that the bill failed to include an exemption for this project, which she believes will bring much-needed jobs to the community. In response to the veto, Mills plans to issue an executive order to establish a council that will examine the impact of data centers in Maine.