No Free Pass for Data Centers in Maine

No big development project deserves a free pass, especially here in Maine where we value our clean water, healthy forests, abundant wildlife, and way of life rooted in the outdoors.

With the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has come a rapid wave of unchecked data center construction across the country needed to support this technology. More and more, local communities in which data centers are located pay a steep price, whether its increased electricity prices, air pollution, excessive noise, or irresponsible water use.

When we sent out a survey to Mainers earlier this year about data center development, 440 of you responded, with responses from all 16 counties across Maine! The survey results confirmed that impacts on the surrounding natural environment and water use are top concerns for data center development, followed by higher energy costs and increased burden on local services.

We heard a wide range of opinions. Some suggested putting in place specific requirements: “I would require them to provide their own energy.” Others expressed a lack of enthusiasm for data centers generally: “Every town has a data center already – it’s called a library!”

The Natural Resources Council of Maine is actively working to make sure the state sets strong standards to guide any large-scale data center development that might be proposed in Maine.

Last year, we advocated for a pause on data center projects in the Legislature to give the state time to develop guidelines. Now, as NRCM’s Climate & Clean Energy Director, I am serving on the Maine Data Center Advisory Council that is tasked with coming up with recommendations to guide data center development in Maine.

It’s clear to us that before any data center is proposed or considered, it must meet some basic criteria.

First, data centers must NOT:

• Drive up electricity prices for Maine residents or businesses
• Overburden local water resources or threaten clean water
• Damage or fragment important wildlife habitat
• Use on-site fossil-fuel generators or power plants
• Be negotiated behind closed doors without community input or transparency

Second, as Jack participates in the advisory council and as we walk the halls of the State House, our experts will be focused on making sure any data center proposed in Maine include the following standards if it is to be seriously considered:

• Net benefits to Maine’s electricity grid, through upgrades to infrastructure and providing 100% new, additional sources of clean energy, on-site and off-site.
• A Community Benefits Agreement that delivers clear, enforceable, long-term community and economic benefits that ensures local municipal services aren’t overburdened.
• Strong safeguards for air, water, and the surrounding environment.
• Fair wages for workers during construction and operation.
• Robust community outreach and transparency (i.e., no non-disclosure agreements [NDAs]).

Based on what other communities across the U.S. are experiencing with data center development, including the massive scale and amount of money being spent to build these projects, there is no reason Maine should lower its high standards for development.

The underwater AI data center proposed in Eastport is a good example of why strong standards and guardrails are so important. This is a highly technical and financially difficult project to build and is being led by a developer who has no significant industrial development experience or track record. They also did not engage community members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe before applying for initial federal permits. We need to expect more.

Data center developers must be held to the highest standards for clean energy, environmental protection, and community benefits.

We anticipate that there will be multiple bills filed during the 2027 legislative session addressing data centers. As Maine’s leading environmental watchdog in the State House, you can be sure our experts will be tracking these bills and collaborating with partner organizations to weigh in at public hearings and during legislative debates to make sure data centers don’t get a free pass in Maine.

The future health of Maine’s environment and local communities should be shaped by the people of Maine. It’s never okay to sacrifice Maine’s clean air or water for corporate profit. We’re not going to give data center developers a free pass to make billions while we get stuck with higher electricity costs and more pollution.