Gov. Janet Mills vetoes bill: April 24, 2026 The 132nd Legislature of the State of Maine State House Augusta, Maine

[Pris]

Source: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/official_documents/veto_messages/2026-04-ld-307-act-establish-maine-data-center-coordination

A moratorium is appropriate given the impacts of massive data centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates. But the final version of this bill fails to allow for a specific project in the Town of Jay that enjoys strong local support from its host community and region.

The 2023 closure of the Androscoggin Mill dealt a devastating blow to the Town of Jay and its surrounding area. As a long-time resident of Franklin County, I know well how critical the mill was to generations of working families, ....

Even so, I believe it necessary and important to examine and plan for the potential impacts of large-scale data centers in Maine, as the use of artificial intelligence becomes more widespread. Given the serious conversations about data centers here and around the country, I believe this work should commence without delay.

However, I also believe we must consider the perspective of the Town of Jay, the Franklin County Commissioners, and the regional Chamber of Commerce, among others, which have each written to me expressing their strong support for the Jay project and asking that it be exempted from any moratorium, given the significant economic opportunity it presents for the region.

I supported the exemption and would have signed this bill if it had included it.

https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/official_documents/veto_messages/2026-04-ld-307-act-establish-maine-data-center-coordination

Read more: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/official_documents/veto_messages/2026-04-ld-307-act-establish-maine-data-center-coordination

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"I supported the exemption and would have signed this bill if it had included it."

[3Hotdogs]

1. I wouldn't have been surprised if the town's people regret the Jay project after it is up and running.

Higher electric bill with the plant competing for the limited local power output?

Noise from the plant?

Fewer jobs than promised?

I bet this costs Janet the election.

[Pris]

3. She would not have vetoed with the exception

It's hard to be a Governor and put a town out of work. She saved their jobs.
Your job is the difference between being housed and homelessness.

The bill could have been better.

[3Hotdogs]

4. From what I've read about the Ai centers, very few jobs come with them. They don't need to be fed raw materials to

make into something. They do'n't need to be greased or oiled. DOn't need people to load finished products into a truck or drivers to take the product to a buyer.

Maybe night watchmen jobs to make sure nobody blows it up after the townspeople find out what a shit-show it is.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Mostly employ techs who move to the area. So locals get apt. rents, grocery shopping, etc. but only by tinkle-down $$. n

[3Hotdogs]

6. --- or do the locals get charged more for rent because of competition for limited rental units?

It would also be interesting to know how many "tech" jobs come with the data centers. What maintenance do they need?
Do the tech guys write programs? Replace burned out capacitors?

[angrychair]

2. Al data centers are always bad

These are obviously desperate people and instead of giving them a viable option, they tell them that drinking poison is the best option.
The water usage, the electrical usage, the noise and the toxins, are not worth it in the long run.

[LymphocyteLover]

7. I'd say this kills her chances for US Senate. Data centers are super unpopular.

[Pris]

8. The people asked her to save their jobs

The bill was bad. It needs to be rewritten. She said she would not have vetoed with an exemption for the town that needed their jobs.

Rewrite the bad bill.

[LymphocyteLover]

9. that may be but the optics are bad... maybe it plays differently locally