Maine data centre dispute shakes up Senate race
What happened
In April 2026, Maine passed a moratorium on large data centres, but Governor Janet Mills vetoed it, and several towns then introduced their own temporary bans. The dispute over AI data centres has since become a central issue in the state's Senate race, with Republican Senator Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson clashing over it. Latest reports say Collins has received huge campaign support from tech capital.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 4 h ago
Timeline
Follow the reports to see the event from each side.
- The Verge · AIMaine’s data center revolt will decide who controls the Senate
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, was midway through defending her record during the final debate of the midterms when an audience member cut her short. "I'm terrified," a man shouted. "AI data centers are destroying our climate. They are poisoning our water."
Heat of this event
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