On the agenda: Westbrook meeting — DATA CENTER (May 18)

WESTBROOK CITY COUNCIL

HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA

MONDAY, MAY 18, 2026 AT 6:00 PM

WESTBROOK HIGH SCHOOL (ROOM 114)
125 STROUDWATER ST.

MEETING INFORMATION
Remote Participation Option Available. This meeting will be offered as a hybrid meeting, accommodating both
in-person and remote attendance, in accordance with City Council's Remote Participation Policy. Visit
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81700741385 to attend remotely.

I.

ROLL CALL

II.

DATA CENTER MORATORIUM
Proposal to establish a 180-day data center moratorium (Presented by Mayor David Morse)

III.

ADJOURNMENT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 12th, 2026
City of Westbrook Proposes Data Center Moratorium
WESTBROOK, MAINE – The City of Westbrook will propose a 180-day data center moratorium at
the Westbrook City Council’s Housing and Economic Development Committee May 18, 2026.
Following Governor Janet Mills’ recent veto of a statewide moratorium on data centers (LD 307),
much discussion has been generated over the community impacts of these types of
developments statewide. By Executive Order, the Governor created a Maine Data Center Advisory
Council to study the issue and make recommendations to the legislature. Local lawmakers,
including House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, have asked municipalities to consider their own local
moratoriums.
At the direction of Mayor David Morse, City of Westbrook staff reviewed data center development
in Maine and the recently vetoed LD 307. The City determined that a 180-day moratorium would
allow staff time to research and propose appropriate standards to the Westbrook City Council for
data centers in Westbrook in the event one is proposed.
Without clear local regulations in place, a data center development could place unexpected
demands on City infrastructure, services, and resources. A 180-day moratorium would allow the
City to evaluate potential impacts and consider updates to Westbrook’s Land Use Ordinance and
other City Codes related to data centers.
Mayor Morse has asked the Westbrook City Council to discuss the need for a moratorium and
invites public comment at their Housing and Economic Development Committee meeting on May
18, 2026, at 6pm. If the Council chooses to move forward, a vote on the proposed 180-day
moratorium would take place at the regular City Council meeting on June 1, 2026.
"People are very concerned about the rapid proliferation of data centers across the country being
driven by AI and cloud computing. I share that concern. I believe that, while no data center has
been yet formally proposed in the City of Westbrook, a moratorium at this time would be prudent
so that we can be prepared if or when such a proposal comes forward. Westbrook has a
reputation for thoughtful planning and development, and taking the time to study this issue
carefully is in line with our planning philosophy." – Mayor David Morse

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Data Center Moratorium Ordinance
City of Westbrook, Maine

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Westbrook, Maine, after due consideration, find
pursuant to 30-A M.R.S. § 4356 as follows:
1) There has been a recent increase in the development of large-scale data centers within the
State of Maine;
2) Data centers consume disproportionate amounts of water and electrical energy, often
equivalent to tens of thousands of homes;
3) Data centers are known to strain local energy grids and result in an increase in residential
utility costs;
4) Data centers can create noise pollution, heat islands, and have significant environmental
impacts, requiring large amounts of water to function;
5) The development of data centers within the City, without appropriate ordinance and
regulatory standards, is likely to result in an overburdening of City resources and
facilities;
6) The Westbrook Land Use Ordinance and other available City Codes and regulations are
inadequate to prevent the serious public harm that may result from the development of
data centers in the City or provide for the effective review and regulation of the location
and operation of data centers in the City;
7) The City requires at least 180 days to gather information regarding the potential effect of
data centers on the local energy grid and environment and to develop and implement
ordinances and regulations necessary to address these development pressures and protect
the public health and safety and welfare of the City’s residents; and
8) The City Council finds that the foregoing facts necessitate the imposition of a temporary
moratorium on data centers.
NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Westbrook as follows:
1) This Data Center Moratorium Ordinance (“Moratorium Ordinance”) is hereby enacted
pursuant to the authority granted to City of Westbrook under 30-A M.R.S. § 3001 and 30A M.R.S. § 4356 and, in furtherance thereof, the City Council hereby declares a
moratorium on the siting, permitting, construction and operation of data centers within
the City of Westbrook;
2) This Moratorium Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City
Council and shall remain in effect for one hundred and eighty (180) days from its
effective date, unless extended by order of the City Council or repealed or modified by
ordinance, for the express purpose of drafting an amendment to the Westbrook Land Use
Ordinance and other City codes and regulations to establish appropriate standards for the

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siting, permitting, construction and operation of data centers within the City of
Westbrook.
3) During the effective period of this Moratorium Ordinance, no official, officer, board or
agency of the City of Westbrook shall accept, process, approve, deny or in any other way
act upon any application or request for any type of permit or approval relating to the
siting, permitting, construction or operation of a new, enlarged or expanded data center
within the City of Westbrook.
4) For the purposes of this Moratorium Ordinance, the term “data center” shall mean a
structure or facility that primarily contains electronic systems and equipment, such as
servers, data storage devices and networking equipment, used to process, store or
transmit digital information for one or more entities or users.
5) If any data center is opened or operated within the City in violation of this Moratorium
Ordinance, such operation shall constitute a violation of this Moratorium Ordinance and
each day of such violation shall constitute a separate violation of this Moratorium
Ordinance. The City’s officers, officials and employees are hereby authorized to institute
any and all rights available to it pursuant to 30-A M.R.S. § 4452, including fines and
penalties, injunctive relief, and its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in prosecuting any
such violation; and
6) Any of the City’s ordinances that are inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this
Moratorium Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent applicable for the duration of the
moratorium imposed by this Moratorium Ordinance. If any section or provision of this
Moratorium Ordinance is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such
a declaration shall not invalidate any other section or provision.

25668244.2

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