WESTBROOK, MAINE — Maine Gov. Janet Mills has not decided whether to sign a bill passed by the Legislature that would impose a statewide moratorium on new data centers until fall 2027. Mills has 10 days to sign the measure, veto it, or allow it to become law without her action.

The measure is the first of its kind in the nation to impose a statewide moratorium on new data centers. "It's on my desk. I'm going to read it. Read it very carefully." Mills said in a recent statement.

The bill does not include a carveout Mills had requested for a project in the town of Jay, which she said was intended to boost jobs in a community that lost its paper mill. "And that mill obviously closed and they lost all the jobs they had, pretty much other than service jobs, and those people deserve a good look at what that data center could do for the for the community," she said.

Mills compared the water demands of a data center with those of the former mill. "This one is right on the Androscoggin River, and that paper mill once used 40-something million gallons of water each day," she said. "So I'm looking at the comparison there, and whether or not it's viable."

Mills said she is concerned about electricity and water consumption by data centers in other states. She also said it would be difficult at this stage of the legislative process to veto the bill and ask the Legislature for a rewrite. The Legislature reconvenes for only one day for veto day.