Maine Governor Vetoes Landmark Data Center Moratorium

Source Domain: gizmodo.com

Maine’s Democrat-controlled legislature passed a bill to impose a moratorium on AI data centers carrying a load of 20 megawatts or more until November 1, 2027.
Governor Janet Mills vetoed the bill, expressing concerns that it did not include an exemption for a particular data center project in the Town of Jay, which had strong local support.
Mills cited local economic benefits, such as job creation in a town that had suffered from mill closure, as a reason for her veto.
Despite the veto, Mills planned to sign a separate bill that would prohibit data centers from using certain state tax incentives and would still establish a council to study data center impacts.
The vetoed bill would have marked a significant response to rising public dissent regarding AI and its associated data centers’ impact on various societal elements including mental health, the environment, and job markets.
Mills’ decision might face criticism from political opponents, especially as she trails in polls for the Democratic Senate seat in the upcoming Maine primaries.

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