Senator Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger Troy Jackson have both embraced calls for guardrails on data centers ahead of the Maine Senate race, as polling finds that Maine voters are skeptical of their construction in the Pine Tree State. The midterm elections have been defined by the debate over artificial intelligence (AI) powered data centers, as a growing number of Americans—and Mainers—say they do not want to see them built in their communities. Collins has generally walked a fine line on data centers, voting for the Ratepayer Protection Act and calling for more local control over the issue.
Meanwhile, Jackson has been highly critical of data center developers and has called for the state to implement a moratorium on their construction. The issue could be impactful in the race, which is one of a handful of toss-ups that could determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate after the midterms. Proponents of data centers believe they are an important economic lifeline for communities that have the potential to create jobs.
Critics, however, have raised numerous issues with data centers, including their impact on the environment, water usage, their potential to drive up electricity bills and noise pollution. In Maine, a state with a culture that values conservation, several municipalities have implemented moratoriums on data centers, as they are “very unpopular” in the state, Mark Brewer, professor of political science at the University of Maine in Orono, told Newsweek. The data center debate was on display during a viral moment in the final debate between the two candidates when a data center protester briefly disrupted while Collins was speaking.
Collins said the protester was “obviously one of Troy’s supporters,” to which Jackson responded, “Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid.” During an October 13 debate, Collins said that the two candidates are “not that far apart on this particular issue” during a discussion about data centers. Here is a look at where the two candidates stand on the matter.
Collins touted her support for the Ratepayer Protection Act, which required states to consider establishing standards for when data centers and other large electricity users connect to the grid, during the debate. That included making sure that they have no impact on electric rates, very important for a state like Maine with the fourth highest electric rates in the country due to Troy’s policies,” she said. The senator said she believes the issue is decided locally.
A spokesperson for Collins pointed to her statement about the Ratepayer Protection Act when reached by Newsweek. Mainers should not have to pay the bill for data centers’ power generation, transmission lines, and energy infrastructure.” Newsweek’s AI scorecard rates Collins as “Leans AI Skeptic.” Jackson has been much more critical of data centers. During the October 13 debate, Jackson said data centers have the ability to “create some jobs,” but that data centers being built in Maine cannot increase electricity rates or hurt the state’s water quality.
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