Maine’s data center revolt will decide who controls the Senate

A fight over data centers in the Senate race

Just before the election, an audience member at a debate told Senator Susan Collins he was scared of AI data centers. He said they hurt the climate and poison water. The issue has become one of the biggest in Maine's campaign. Towns across the state have passed temporary bans or plan to ask voters about it in November.

Key numbers

• In a September poll, 76 percent of Mainers said they oppose a data center in their community.
• 58 percent said they strongly oppose one.
• Democrats plan to spend about $81 million on the Maine Senate race, and Republicans about $114 million.
• The race is expected to be the most expensive Senate race per person the US has ever seen.

Why Maine?

Maine has cheap land, old empty factories, and lots of rivers and lakes. Those things make it attractive for data centers, which need land, power, and water. In April, the state legislature passed the first statewide pause on big data centers in the country. Governor Janet Mills vetoed it, which means she rejected the bill and stopped it from becoming law.

Why it matters

The result could decide which party controls the Senate. It could also shape national rules on data centers and AI. Many people worry that data centers will raise their electricity bills. Some economists say the promised jobs often do not last. So this fight may show how other rural places across the country respond to AI growth.

What to watch

• Whether the Senate race is decided by voters who care most about data centers.
• How many towns vote on data center limits in November.
• Whether Maine's power prices rise as data centers grow.
• How the national debate on AI and data centers changes after the election.