First statewide ban on data center construction in a US state
The northeasternmost US state is set to implement the first construction ban on new data centers. However, the governor's signature is still missing.
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Maine is set to become the first US state to implement a complete ban on the construction of data centers that consume more than 20 MW of electricity. This is intended to be in effect until November 2027. The law (LD 307) has been passed by large majorities in both the state's Senate and House of Representatives, reports the local newspaper Portland Press Herald. Only the approval of Governor Janet Mills (Democrats) is now missing. However, she had linked her approval to an exception for a proposed data center in the town of Jay, for which there was no majority in parliament. Should she sign the law anyway, the northeasternmost US state would be the first in which the new construction of data centers would be completely prohibited.
Growing criticism of the AI boom
During the construction ban, a working group established by the law is to examine the potential consequences of building data centers, the newspaper summarizes. This group should include not only various representatives from authorities but also from employees, companies, and environmental protection groups. It is to examine, for example, the consequences of construction for the stability of the power supply and how environmental impacts can be minimized. A final report is expected by February 2027, more than six months before the moratorium expires.
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The legislative initiative is part of a broader movement against the construction boom of AI data centers, which is causing growing concern in the USA. The immense electricity demand of these facilities is particularly in focus, as the plants could drive up electricity prices for everyone. For this reason too, there has long been a trend of not connecting new data centers to the power grid at all and supplying them with directly generated electricity. Since natural gas is primarily used for this, it has potentially far-reaching consequences not only for environmental and climate protection. Resistance has long since formed in numerous US states, with similar laws to the one in Maine being prepared elsewhere.
(mho)
