Dover-Foxcroft seeks temporary data center ban

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The town of Dover-Foxcroft wants to ban data centers temporarily for 180 days while the Maine Data Center Advisory Council works to regulate future projects.

In the spring, Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine vetoed a bill that would have placed an 18-month statewide ban on large-scale data centers.

The community’s  Climate Action Advisory Committee is investigating practices and safeguards concerning data center environmental impact, energy resources and economic development, with its report due in early 2027. The group has proposed a temporary ban on data center projects of 10 megawatts or greater because they believe it would be in the best interest of residents and property owners in town.

Extensions to 180-day bans can be granted as long as the town can prove the municipality is working on it and needs time.

The Climate Action Advisory Committee’s proposed language is being reviewed by town attorney Jon Pottle, partner at Katahdin Law, Select Chair Steve Grammont said during a Select Board meeting Monday. Pottle will determine “if the language is supportive of the intent.”

Once this is done, the Select Board’s administrative committee will review the document. The temporary ban could be on the agenda for the next Select Board meeting on Monday, Sept. 28.

“All intentions are to move forward with this,” Grammont said.

More than a decade ago, Dover-Foxcroft paused large-scale projects in regard to a proposed east-west highway across the state. This provided some still applicable text in the land use ordinance.

The town’s electrical infrastructure may not be the most conducive for a large data center, Grammont said previously. “We’re probably not at the top of the list which gives us some time,” he said.

In other business, Town Manager Alsina Brenenstuhl was authorized to negotiate a lease with Fresh Start Sober Living of Maine for a half dozen parking spaces adjacent to the 8 Monument Square property. 

Town property would not be given away. 

“We are doing this purely because we want to be supportive of this service in town,” Grammont said. 

Last month Fresh Start Sober Living of Maine President Scott Pardy said the non-profit is looking to acquire 8 Monument Square. The building, which would house about a dozen people, is centrally located wth access to downtown, but has no deeded parking. 

Police Chief Seth Burnes said town officials should look at options to help illuminate the downtown. Crosswalks are not well lit and soon businesses will be patronized after sunset.

“We should try to find a happy medium between too much light and not enough light,” he said.

Both the public works and protection committees will look into this.

Brenenstuhl mentioned several items in her report.

Foxcroft Academy hosted a rare surviving copy of the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence, printed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, and sent to the Colonies to announce American independence, as part of a statewide tour presented by the Maine Historical Society to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.

Brenenstuhl thanked both the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department and Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office for providing round-the-clock security while the document was on display for several days at the Jim Robinson Field House.

With the days getting shorter, those walking and riding bikes should wear appropriate clothing to make themselves as visible as possible. 

“So walkers and cyclists are encouraged to make themselves visible and drivers are urged to be cautious,” Breenstuhl said.

The town manager and others from the region met with USDA Rural Development Maine State Director John Butera. Discussions included programs for homeowners and those looking to purchase homes and how the agency has microgrants and loan interest loans.

A public meeting on this topic will be scheduled.