Data centers in Maine

📜 State laws

Statewide pause on big data centers (LD 307): passed, then vetoed · April 29, 2026
In April 2026 the Legislature passed LD 307. It would have stopped towns and state agencies from approving data centers that use 20 megawatts or more of power until November 1, 2027, and set up a 13-member state council. The House voted 79-62 and the Senate 21-13. Governor Janet Mills vetoed it on April 24, 2026. She said she supports a pause but wanted an exception for the planned data center at the old paper mill in Jay. On April 29 the House voted 72-65 to override, short of the two-thirds needed, so the bill died. Source

New law: data centers left out of two state tax breaks (LD 713) · April 23, 2026
Governor Mills signed LD 713 on April 23, 2026. It defines a data center and keeps new data centers out of the Business Equipment Tax Exemption (BETE) and the Dirigo business incentive program. It also tells the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to study other help data centers can still get, such as tax deals with towns (TIF) and grants, and report by November 4, 2026. Source

Governor's order: Maine Data Center Advisory Council · April 29, 2026
On April 29, 2026 Governor Mills signed Executive Order 5. It created a state Data Center Advisory Council led by the heads of the Department of Energy Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection. Other members include the utility commission, the Public Advocate, towns (Maine Municipal Association), the Wabanaki Alliance, utilities, labor, environmental groups and data center businesses. It must send a report with ideas for new laws to the Governor and Legislature by January 29, 2027. The order does not pause data centers; they still need the normal permits. Source

Council's draft ideas (October 2026, not final) · Oct 7, 2026
A working draft for the council's October 7, 2026 meeting lists ideas, not decisions. Examples: big data centers should pay all energy costs they cause; the state should post air, water and wastewater permit papers online; backup generators should meet the cleanest (Tier 4) standard; state noise guidelines towns can use; payment for farmland or wildlife habitat that gets built on; and money set aside for cleanup when a site closes. The draft says the council was not asked to recommend a pause or ban. A draft report will be released for public comment in the coming months. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

Utility commission is looking into how data centers get power and who pays · May 27, 2026
Maine has no special electric rate (large-load tariff) for data centers yet. The Governor's order tells the Department of Energy Resources and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to protect other customers from data center costs, including power lines that could end up unused. On May 20, 2026 the department asked the PUC to collect facts. The PUC opened an informal investigation on May 27, 2026 (case 2026-00142). Central Maine Power, Versant, gas utilities, small co-op utilities and groups such as Acadia Center and the Union of Concerned Scientists filed comments, and the PUC scheduled a workshop. Source

Electric bills in 2026 · July 1, 2026
On January 1, 2026 the standard supply price rose about 20% for Central Maine Power (CMP) customers, to 12.72 cents per kWh, and about 23% to 28% for Versant customers. On July 1, 2026 delivery charges went down a little. A typical home using 550 kWh a month now pays about $157 a month with CMP, $178 with Versant's Bangor Hydro district and $174 with Versant's Maine Public district. These changes were not caused by data centers. Source

💵 Tax breaks

Data centers cannot use BETE or Dirigo · April 23, 2026
BETE normally removes property tax on business equipment, and the state pays towns back only about half of the lost tax. Dirigo gives a 10% credit on new equipment and buildings. Under LD 713 (2026), data centers starting operations from August 2026 cannot use either one. Towns can still offer their own tax deals (TIF); the state is studying those (report due November 4, 2026). Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

Freedom of Access Act (FOAA): how to ask for records · 2026
Any person can ask to see or copy public records from a town, county or state agency. The request does not have to be in writing or in person. The agency must confirm it got your request within 5 working days and give a good-faith estimate of time and cost. Looking at records is usually free; copies can cost a fee. If it refuses, it must tell you in writing within 5 working days and say why. You can appeal a denial to Superior Court within 30 calendar days. Source

Secret deals (NDAs) with towns · Aug 24, 2026
No Maine law bans or limits secret deals (NDAs) between towns and data center developers. Wiscasset signed one in August 2025 for one year; when it ended in August 2026 the town released it after a FOAA request from a newspaper. The state council's draft ideas call for posting state permit papers online. Source

💧 Water

Big projects need a state Site Law permit (DEP) · 2026
Under the Site Location of Development Law, a project usually needs a permit from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) if it covers more than 20 acres, or has more than 3 acres of buildings, parking and paved or cleared ground. DEP checks things like noise, traffic, storm water, wildlife and effects on water. In the unorganized areas, the Land Use Planning Commission also checks that the use is allowed. Source

Pumping a lot of well water · 2026
A 'significant groundwater well' needs DEP review. That is a well pumping at least 50,000 gallons a day (75,000 a week) when it is within 500 feet of a wetland, pond, stream or someone else's well, or at least 144,000 gallons a day (216,000 a week) farther away. DEP must find it will not unreasonably harm streams, ponds, wetlands or private and public wells. Water from a town water district is handled by that district. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Backup diesel generators may need an air license (DEP) · 2026
DEP's Bureau of Air Quality licenses sources of air pollution under its Chapter 115 rule. Big sets of backup generators often get a license with limits on how many hours they can run outside of emergencies. Licenses are posted in a public DEP online folder. We could not confirm the exact size at which a license is required; ask DEP. The state council's draft ideas would require the cleanest (Tier 4) generators at big data centers. Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center near you · 2026
Maine counties do not zone. Each town or city makes its own zoning rules. In most towns, voters adopt or change these rules at town meeting or by ballot; in towns with a town council and in cities, the council votes. The Planning Board reviews site plans, and the Board of Appeals hears appeals and variances. In the unorganized townships and many plantations (more than 10.4 million acres, over half of Maine), the state Land Use Planning Commission is the zoning and permit agency. Big projects also need state DEP permits. Source

Local pauses (moratoriums): up to 180 days at a time · 2026
A town or city can pause permits for a use like data centers if its current rules cannot prevent serious harm, or to avoid overloading public services. Each pause can last at most 180 days. It can be extended for more 180-day periods if the problem still exists and the town is making progress. In towns where town meeting is the legislative body, the Select Board can extend it after notice and a hearing. Many Maine towns and cities used this for data centers in 2026. Source

Appeal deadlines · 2026
A decision of a town Board of Appeals can be appealed to Superior Court within 45 days of the board's vote (Rule 80B). You can ask the board to reconsider within 10 days of its decision. Check your town's ordinance, because some send planning board decisions straight to court. Source

How to ask for records · 2026
Send a request to the town clerk or the agency's public access officer. Describe the records you want (for example, 'all emails and agreements with data center developers since January 2025'). They must confirm within 5 working days. If they refuse, you can appeal to Superior Court within 30 days. Source

How to comment on data center power costs · 2026
The PUC's data center case is number 2026-00142. You can read filings and send a public comment through the PUC's online case system. The state Data Center Advisory Council takes written comments during comment periods and will post a draft report for comment before January 29, 2027; sign up for its email list on its web page. The Office of the Public Advocate represents home customers in utility cases. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) · 2026
Helps pay heating costs, including electric heat. For the 2026-2027 season the income limit is $38,070 a year for 1 person and $73,213 for 4. Apply online at MaineHousing.org (Fuel Assistance) or through your local Community Action Agency; call 2-1-1 for help. Source

Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP): monthly electric bill discount · Oct 2026
Gives income-qualified CMP and Versant customers a discount on the electric bill. Since October 2026 it is a monthly discount instead of one or two lump sums. Homes up to 150% of the federal poverty level qualify. For example, Versant's Bangor Hydro district gives 79% off for the lowest income group and 17% off for the highest. People who get HEAP, or who are in DHHS income programs, are enrolled automatically. Call 2-1-1 to apply. Source

📞 Who to contact

Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) · 2026
Sets rates for Central Maine Power, Versant and other utilities, and runs the data center investigation (case 2026-00142). Website: https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/ Source

Office of the Public Advocate · 2026
Speaks for home and small business customers in utility cases. Website: https://www.maine.gov/meopa/ Source

Department of Energy Resources (DOER) · 2026
State energy planning; co-leads the Data Center Advisory Council. Council page: https://www.maine.gov/energy/datacentercouncil Source

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) · 2026
Site Law permits, groundwater wells, and air licenses for generators. Co-leads the Data Center Advisory Council. Website: https://www.maine.gov/dep/ Source

Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) · 2026
Zoning and permits in Maine's unorganized townships and many plantations. Website: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/lupc/ Source

Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) · 2026
Runs state business incentives and is studying incentives data centers can still use (report due November 4, 2026). Website: https://www.maine.gov/decd/ Source

Maine Legislature: Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee · 2026
Hears energy and data center bills. Bill search: https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/ Source

MaineHousing · 2026
Runs HEAP and helps with LIAP; lists income limits. Website: https://www.mainehousing.org/ Source