Washington, D.C. – Tonight the Maine state legislature passed a bill that would enact the first statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers in the country. The bill would enact an 18-month halt to new data centers consuming more than 20 megawatts of power. Up to now, Governor Janet Mills has expressed uncertainty regarding her support for this bill.

In response, Food & Water Watch’s Managing Director of Policy and Litigation Mitch Jones issued the following statement:

“Great credit to the people and state legislators of Maine for being at the forefront of a large and swelling national movement to put a halt to the reckless, unchecked explosive growth of hyperscale AI data centers. These massive facilities suck up unimaginable amounts of water and electricity, and wreak havoc on the everyday Americans in nearby communities that are forced to foot the bills for this irresponsible, profit-hungry industry. 

“Governor Mills should listen to the people and legislators of Maine, and sign this smart, nation-leading bill into law immediately.”

Last October, Food & Water Watch became the first national organization in the country to call for a full nationwide moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers. In a letter to Congress in December, more than 230 national, state and local organizations from across the country echoed this call. 

Food & Water Watch has been active in fighting numerous proposals in many states, including Maine, California, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In March it released a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind report that makes a thorough, urgent case for a nationwide moratorium on the construction of new hyperscale AI data centers. Later last month Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced just such a nationwide moratorium bill.