Artificial Intelligence

Maine Bill Proves States Are Capable of Adopting Bad Data Center Policies Without Federal Intervention

A week after Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to pause AI data center construction indefinitely, Maine is poised to institute the first statewide ban.

Jack Nicastro | 4.3.2026 1:25 PM

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Amid bipartisan backlash to AI from federal lawmakers, nearly a dozen states are considering legislation that would prohibit new data center construction for a period of months to years. Maine is poised to be the first state to pass such a bill. 

On Tuesday, the Maine House of Representatives passed House Bill (H.B.) 307, largely along party lines, to prohibit "approval for the development, construction or operation of a data center with a load of 20 megawatts or more" anywhere in the state until November 2027. The bill also establishes the Maine Data Center Coordination Council, and tasks it with "protecting ratepayers, maintaining electric grid reliability, minimizing environmental impacts and enabling responsible and appropriately  sited economic development." 

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