Maine governor vetoes bill temporarily banning large data centers in the state

Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have temporarily blocked large data centers, keeping major projects eligible to move forward.

The measure would have imposed a moratorium through 2027 on facilities using 20 megawatts or more, but it was rejected despite legislative approval.

Mills said she will use an executive order to create a Maine Data Center Coordination Council instead.

She also signed a separate bill limiting data centers’ access to business tax incentives, underscoring the broader policy fight over AI infrastructure and power demand.