This can be a first for UNITED STATES. The State of Maine has taken an unprecedented step by adopting a moratorium on the development of large data centersin a context of rising tensions round consumption electric and the environmental footprint of infrastructure linked toartificial intelligence. The textual content, voted by the 2 native chambers, should nonetheless be promulgated by Democratic Governor Janet Mills.
The measure plans to droop, till the autumn of 2027, the issuance of permits for any information heart challenge exceeding 20 megawatts {of electrical} capability. This threshold immediately targets large-scale installations deployed by expertise teams to help the fast growth of AI. On the identical time, the legislation creates a council answerable for evaluating the affect of those infrastructures on the electrical energy community, theenvironment and particular person payments.
Bills multiplied tenfold in two years
This choice comes as investments in information facilities are exploding in the USA. In keeping with the ConstructConnect platform, development spending has elevated almost tenfold in two years, with projections for 2025 exceeding $60 billion, in comparison with lower than $7 billion in 2023.
Maine is among the many territories the place residential charges have elevated essentially the most lately, in keeping with the USA Vitality Data Administration (EIA). On the finish of 2025, two information heart tasks have already been rejected within the State, with elected officers accusing the builders of getting underestimated their water and electrical energy consumption.
Eleven states are contemplating related proposals
If Janet Mills stated she was in favor of the precept of the moratorium, she had requested an exemption for a challenge to reconvert a former paper mill, representing roughly $550 million in funding. A request in the end rejected by parliamentarians.
Our file on artificial intelligence
Past Maine, this vote sends a political sign nationally. Eleven different states are at the moment analyzing related proposals, clearly exhibiting the rising resistance to infrastructure tasks carried out by massive expertise corporations. The governor now has ten days to promulgate the legislation, veto it or let it come into power with out a signature.
