Map Shows States Eyeing Data Center Bans as Maine Governor Weighs Halt
Maine Governor Janet Mills is weighing a bill that would halt the construction of new data centers, as lawmakers in nearly a dozen other states have pushed for similar bans amid concerns about the impact on local communities and the environment.
If signed by Mills, LD 307 would temporarily halt large AI data center construction in Maine, reflecting a growing national backlash over energy use, water demand and environmental impacts tied to the booming artificial intelligence industry.
Newsweek reached out to Mills' office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Maine’s data center moratorium bill reflects a national debate about how lawmakers should approach the growth of data centers and AI infrastructure. Proponents of data centers point to economic benefits for communities where they are built, but critics have raised concerns about their environmental impact concerningenergy use, water consumption and land development. With AI data centers among the fastest‑growing energy users in the country, decisions by lawmakers could determine where future AI infrastructure is built.
Maine Data Center Moratorium Bill: What To Know
LD 307 passed the state legislature earlier in April and is now awaiting a signature or veto from Mills, who has not said what she plans to do. The bill would prohibit the construction of data centers that require more than 20 megawatts of energy until November 2027 and establish a council to oversee regulation.
The bill was first sponsored by state Representative Melanie Sachs, a Democrat from Freeport, who said in a statement that the pause would "give us the time and space to evaluate how these data centers may affect ratepayers, grid reliability, natural resources and local communities."
"AI data centers are increasingly drawn to locations with available land and strong connectivity, qualities that Maine is well positioned to provide. But if these centers aren't thoughtfully planned and coordinated, they can place extraordinary demands on electric infrastructure, the surrounding environment and host communities," she said.
Which States Are Considering Data Center Bans
Maine's data center moratorium has gone further than similar proposals in any other state. But legislators across the country have made similar pushes to pause construction on data center construction and could follow suit.
Efforts have so far failed in two states. Several bills in Georgia, including HB 1012, SB 410 and SB 408, failed to garner enough support to advance through the most recent legislative session. In South Dakota, SB 232 did not advance.
In addition to Maine, two other New England states are considering moratoriums. In Vermont, S.205 would halt construction on data centers requiring more than 100 megawatts of electricity until 2030. New Hampshire House Bill 1265 would halt data center construction and establish a committee to study their environmental impacts.
New York S9144 would establish a three-year moratorium but has stalled in committee.
Maryland SB 120 would halt construction of data centers, though the ban has struggled to gain traction in the state. Virginia's HB1515 would also temporarily halt approval of new data centers. Lawmakers earlier this year voted to carry the bill into the 2027 session, according to Cardinal News. South Carolina's H-5286 would also halt their construction in the Palmetto State.
An Oklahoma bill, SB 1488, would halt data center construction until 2029. Wisconsin's LRB-6377 would halt data center construction until they meet state regulations. In Michigan, HB 5594 would halt data center construction until April 2027, but Governor Gretchen Whitmer has expressed support for data center construction.
"If we don't do them here, they'll be done elsewhere, and they'll be done less smart, with lower wages in a way that abuses the natural resources and jacks up energy prices," Whitmer said earlier in April, according to the Detroit Regional Chamber.
The Michigan bill was introduced by a Republican, signaling some bipartisan support for these moratoriums.
Michigan state Representative Jennifer Wortz, who is sponsoring the bill, warned that rural communities "feel like they're being invaded."
"Endless solar panels, wind farms, battery storage facilities, and now data centers are being proposed, often with little to no local input and oversight. Data centers come with a lot of unique questions. Between the land being cleared for development, the demand for energy they will add to the grid, and the tremendous water usage, these projects could cost communities more than they are worth," she said.
What's Driving the Push to Halt Data Center Construction
Data center critics have pointed to environmental and cost concerns in their opposition. For instance, critics say data centers can require millions of gallons of water per day for cooling.
Mitch Jones, managing director of policy and litigation at the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch, told Newsweek on Thursday that leaders have been "caught completely off guard" by the industry.
"It has yet to be determined if-not how-this industry can ever operate in a manner that sufficiently protects people and society from the profusion of inherent hazards and harms that hyperscale data centers bring wherever they appear," he said.
He noted that Americans were already dealing with "skyrocketing" electricity rates due to consumption from AI data centers that are "sucking up precious water resources, paving over farmland, driving climate change and disrupting the fabric of small-town communities."
In 2025, Food & Water Watch led more than 250 groups in an open letter calling on states to halt data center construction.
Proponents of data centers, however, point to economic benefits.
The Data Center Coalition's report titled "Economic Contributions of Data Centers in the United States” found that the industry's contribution to the U.S.'s GDP grew from $355 billion in 2017 to $727 billion in 2023. It found that direct employment during that time grew 50 percent, compared to 10 percent growth in other industries.
"Data centers have become vital to the modern economy, underpinning digitalization, facilitating datadriven decision-making, and supporting a broad spectrum of industries and services. Their role in storing, processing, and managing data is essential for organizational success in the digital age," the report reads.
Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Push for National AI Data Center Moratorium
Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, introduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center Moratorium Act, which would implement a "reasonable pause" to the development of AI.
The bill would seek to slow down AI development by instituting a national moratorium until specific safeguards are in place to ensure AI is "safe and effective," would not increase electricity prices or destroy the environment and would benefit workers.
"Bottom line: We cannot sit back and allow a handful of billionaire Big Tech oligarchs to make decisions that will reshape our economy, our democracy and the future of humanity. We need serious public debate and democratic oversight over this enormously consequential issue," Sanders wrote in a March 25 statement.
The bill, introduced by two of the most progressive lawmakers in Washington, would face headwinds against more centrist Democrats and Republicans who are more supportive of data centers.
President Donald Trump has acknowledged concerns about data centers. His administration has been supportive of AI development.
"They need some PR help because people think that if a data center goes in there, electricity prices are going to go up," Trump said in March, the Associated Press reported.
What Happens Next
If Mills vetoes the bill, Maine lawmakers could revisit the issue in their next legislative session. Similar moratorium proposals continue to surface in states and cities across the country.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 1:47 PM.