Maine Governor Janet Mills has rejected a bill that would have temporarily suspended permits for new data centers. Had it been enacted, L. D. 307 would have established the first statewide halt on data center development in the country—lasting until November 1, 2027. The legislation also proposed forming a 13-member panel to study and offer recommendations regarding data center construction. As public opposition to data centers grows, other states, including New York, have explored similar pauses.

In a letter to the state legislature, Mills—a Democrat currently running for the U.S. Senate—stated that pausing new data centers would be "appropriate given the impacts of massive data centers in other states on the environment and on electricity rates." She added that she "would have signed this bill" if it had included an exemption for a data center project in the Town of Jay. That project, according to Mills, "enjoys strong local support from its host community and region."

Melanie Sachs, a Democratic state representative who sponsored the bill, expressed disappointment, saying Mills’ veto "poses significant potential consequences for all ratepayers, our electric grid, our environment, and our shared energy future."