Mainers are rightly concerned about the consequences of data center proliferation, with each instance consuming vast amounts of electricity for powering electronics and groundwater for cooling.

As usual, corporations building these centers hope to avoid as much direct operational cost as possible by transferring them to society as indirect costs, thus improving their bottom lines. Electricity needs will be filled by the electric grid, and so what if more generating capacity is needed? That’s someone else’s problem. Cooling needs will be met by mass extraction of ground water, and so what if that affects future water quality or access for surrounding land owners?

Maine should pass laws requiring data center developers to assume these costs as a requirement for approval. First, legislation should require that developers install renewable energy generating capacity (wind, solar, etc.) equivalent to the center’s expected energy consumption. Second, legislation should mandate that data center heating/cooling requirements be fulfilled through means other than groundwater extraction, such as by utilizing geothermal technologies.

Opposition to such legislation would be fierce, but that is the nature of government requiring capital interests to shoulder their own costs of doing business — rather than foisting them off onto society.

Mark Love
Falmouth