Bangor passes 180-day moratorium on data center development

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Bangor City Council passed a 180-day moratorium on data center development Monday night.

The vote was unanimous, nine-to-nothing.

According to councilors, the city experienced pressure to develop data centers, which they say typically require significant water and electricity use while generating air, water and noise pollution.

“Because this development pressure was unanticipated, existing ordinances and development standards do not adequately address the unique infrastructure demands, environmental impacts, impacts to neighboring property owners, and operational characteristics of data centers,” said Susan Faloon, Bangor City Councilor.

The city council plans to use the 180 days to make changes to the Land Development Code to prepare for future development requests.