Maine moves to freeze 20 MW data centres until November 2027

Maine plans a moratorium on new 20 MW data centres

The restriction targets facilities using 20 MW or more to assess impacts on the power grid and the environment

In the US state of Maine, lawmakers are preparing to pass a bill that would pause the construction of new data centres with power demand of 20 megawatts or more until November 2027. The move is tied to the need to evaluate environmental effects and the resilience of the electricity grid. The bill has already cleared the state House of Representatives and is expected to be approved by the Senate, which would make Maine the first US state to prohibit the development of large data centres.

Why AI data centres are drawing criticism

Data centres used to run resource-intensive AI models are increasingly facing pushback, particularly in rural areas. Critics blame them for driving up electricity bills and harming the environment. Between 2021 and 2026, electricity prices in the state rose by almost 60%, and additional data-centre construction could worsen the situation.

Similar measures under consideration across the US

Economist Anirban Basu said the state could become the first of many to introduce comparable moratoria. Ten other states are already weighing similar steps, including New York, South Carolina and Oklahoma.

Two weeks ago, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez put forward a federal policy aimed at limiting the construction of AI data centres. More than 200 environmental organisations have also urged Congress to act in the same direction.