This US state is first to pause data centre construction: Why ‘first legislation of its kind in America’ is big
Maine has become the first US state to temporarily suspend new data centre construction due to environmental concerns and rising utility bills. The 18-month pause will allow a state study group to investigate the long-term effects of data centres.
Maine lawmakers have passed a bill temporarily suspending new data centre construction, marking the first such legislation in the US. The 18-month pause applies to data centres requiring over 20 megawatts of power. A state study group will investigate the facilities' long-term effects and suggest permanent regulations. The move is driven by concerns over data centres' massive electricity consumption and water usage, which can drive up household bills. Other states are split on the issue, with some rejecting similar moratoriums and others enacting AI regulations. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft will face a complete pause on setting up new large data centres in Maine until November 2027.
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