Photo: NYC Office of Technology
By Lee Burnett
The Sanford City Council is giving itself at least three months and possibly longer to anticipate and protect against adverse effects of the massive data center proposed for south Sanford.
The council voted unanimously Tuesday to enact an emergency 91-day moratorium to adopt new ordinance standards covering a slew of potential impacts on the environment and electrical rates. The moratorium generated little discussion among city councilors. It drew a strong written endorsement from the lead developer of the proposed Sanford Woods project.
“We will be candid about our interests. A well-designed permitting ordinance serves our interests as much as the city’s,” according to the letter from Randy Gibbs that City Manager Steve Buck read aloud at the meeting. Gibbs noted the disparate burdens and benefits from data center developments across the country. “The difference is almost always the standards a community sets before construction begins. A clear, enforceable ordinance protects Sanford and gives a serious developer a defined standard to build against. We would rather meet a high bar than operate in an undefined one.”
The local moratorium comes on the heels of the state’s failure to adopt a moratorium last month. The Maine Legislature had adopted a moratorium but couldn’t muster the votes necessary to override Gov. Janet Mills’ veto. All the issues that gave rise to state action are now to be examined by city staff and a citizens’ advisory task force, yet to be appointed.
City Manager Buck itemized the list of concerns: electrical grid and ratepayer protections, siting and location standards, conditional use review processes, noise and generator controls, water use and environmental standards, infrastructure and public service impacts, fiscal transparency and community benefit, phased development, decommissioning requirements, and ongoing monitoring and enforcement.
The city is now advertising for residents to apply to serve on an Industrial Development Standards Task Force, to be comprised of city staff, residents, industry representatives, and city councilors. Committee members should be able to read and understand formal ordinance and regulatory language.
If the ordinance review is not complete by the time the 91-day moratorium expires in August, councilors indicated they may consider extending the moratorium for up to 180 days. The longer, non-emergency moratorium would require a public hearing.
Councilor Pete Tranchemontagne restated his preference for a town-wide referendum. Councilor Charlene Plante raised concerns about the national security threat posed by data centers. “It is serious,” she said, “and not enough people are talking about it.”
Councilor Jonathan Martel said he supports the moratorium as a means of generating information about the proposal and also supports a townwide referendum. He said he has concerns around data being stored, water, environment, and energy.
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