Maine on Tuesday became the first U.S. state to call for a temporary halt on construction of large data centers, citing concerns that AI-driven, power-hungry facilities could strain local electric grids. A bill that passed both legislative chambers now goes to Democratic Governor Janet Mills; if she signs it, Maine would enact the nation’s first statewide moratorium focused on the rapidly growing AI data-center industry.
Under the measure, approvals for facilities that need more than 20 megawatts of power would be paused until late 2027 while a state council studies impacts on electricity grids, consumer costs and the environment. Backers say the pause is meant to provide time for careful review of risks that energy-intensive centers could overload local systems, push up household electricity bills and consume significant land and water resources.
Representative Melanie Sachs, the bill sponsor, said communities have asked the Legislature to act so the state can respond deliberately and responsibly to a swiftly evolving industry. Governor Mills earlier sought an exemption for a smaller project that would use existing infrastructure and have limited grid impact. Maine currently has no major data centers, though proposals have surfaced recently.
Rising energy costs in recent years, noted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, have contributed to public opposition; a recent poll found about 65% of Americans oppose having a data center built in their community. Similar measures or debates are underway in roughly 11 other states. In February, residents of New Brunswick, New Jersey, mobilized to block a proposed center over concerns about energy use, environmental damage and land footprint. At the federal level, Senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have introduced legislation to halt all data-center construction until Congress enacts AI safety rules, and Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal have proposed measures addressing data centers’ effects on energy costs.