South Berwick Council Adopts 180-Day Data Center Moratorium

The South Berwick Town Council voted 4-0 on October 13, 2026, to adopt a 180-day moratorium on data centers, making the town the latest in Maine to pause large-scale data processing projects, the Portland Press Herald reported.

The pause applies retroactively to July 14, 2026, the date the planning board first consulted a lawyer about drafting ordinance language. Councilors said in September 2026 that they were not aware of any proposed data centers in town. Vice Chair Mallory Cook was absent from the vote.

The moratorium is intended to give officials time to study how such a facility would affect the town and to write permanent rules, which could include a ban. Planning board member Tony Palazzetti, who is also running for Town Council, said the board initially considered allowing facilities under 100,000 square feet but lowered the threshold to 10,000 square feet, closer to limits adopted in communities such as Sanford. He cited potential strain on water and electricity.

Councilor Joel Martin said the town will also draw on state recommendations for large-scale data center development, which are due by January 29, 2027. The moratorium expires roughly three weeks before that date, though the council can extend it if the planning board shows progress on an ordinance.

This story was first reported by The Portland Press Herald.