Maine Governor Janet Mills is at a crossroads, needing to decide soon whether to endorse or reject the country’s inaugural ban on artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. Amidst her intense Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat, this decision looms large.
In a recent development, Maine’s legislature enacted a temporary moratorium on constructing data centers exceeding specific dimensions, marking it as the first state to do so. This year-long ban will also establish a committee to review town-level proposed projects.
AI data centers, known for their substantial size, have sparked debates nationwide due to noise concerns and their impact on local energy costs. Despite this, no state has previously succeeded in imposing an outright construction ban, even temporarily. However, Maine’s distinct culture of independence and nature appreciation enabled the legislation to pass smoothly through both legislative chambers.
Governor Mills now faces a choice: endorse the moratorium or exercise her veto power. She recently expressed interest in exempting a $550 million data center proposed for Jay, a central Maine town, from this ban due to potential job creation benefits. However, no such exemption was included in the final version passed by the legislature.
The decision is further complicated as Mills contends with a challenging primary against Democratic challenger Graham Platner, an oyster farmer who has gained significant traction in polls. With her Senate race intensifying and AI becoming a contentious issue, this may not be high on her priorities. However, she must act soon, attracting the keen interest of burgeoning AI-focused super PACs investing heavily in national campaigns.
When contacted by Decrypt for comment, representatives for Mills did not provide an immediate response.