Governor Mills Sides with Corporate Interests, Vetoes Data Center Moratorium in Maine
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Governor Janet Mills has vetoed a crucial bill that would have temporarily halted the unchecked expansion of massive, energy-hungry data centers in Maine, prioritizing corporate profits over environmental protection and community well-being.
Maine Governor Janet Mills has once again demonstrated her willingness to put corporate interests ahead of the people and the planet by vetoing legislation that would have imposed a temporary moratorium on the construction of large data centers in the state. The bill, LD 307, sought to pause approvals for data centers requiring more than 20 megawatts of power until November 2027, giving a newly established council time to assess their devastating impact on the environment and skyrocketing electricity rates for working families.
In her veto letter, Governor Mills paid lip service to the idea of a moratorium but ultimately prioritized a proposed data center project in Jay, refusing to exempt it from the ban. This project, touted for its job creation and tax revenue, is a classic example of corporate greenwashing—offering a handful of jobs while threatening the environment and the community's long-term sustainability.
Jay, already reeling from the closure of the Androscoggin Mill in 2023, has seen its economy and tax base gutted. Instead of investing in sustainable, community-driven solutions, Mills is doubling down on extractive industries that exploit local resources and leave Mainers to deal with the fallout.
Governor Mills claims she will issue an executive order to create a council to examine the impact of these massive data centers, but this move falls far short of the decisive action needed to protect Maine’s environment and working-class communities as artificial intelligence and corporate cloud computing demand more and more resources.
Legislators and advocacy groups have rightly condemned the veto, warning of dire consequences for ratepayers, the electric grid, and Maine’s shared energy future. Representative Melanie Sachs, who sponsored the bill, highlighted the risks to the environment and the public, as Maine’s historic legislation was the first of its kind in the nation to pass both legislative chambers.
The fight over data centers is a fight for Maine’s future—a choice between corporate greed and a sustainable, equitable society. As demand for artificial intelligence and cloud services surges, so too does the threat to our environment and communities. Mills’ veto is a clear signal: profits come before people.