Eastport and Sipayik Communities Push Back
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DeepGreen Western Passage SPV LLC has applied for a preliminary permit with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build an underwater AI data center in Passamaquoddy Bay.
After FERC found numerous deficiencies in the initial application, DeepGreen scaled down the proposed size of the operational development from 400 acres to 27 acres, with 34 hydrokinetic turbines.
On August 5th, Eastport City Council held public hearings on two citizen petitions for ordinances seeking to halt the development.
One initiative would enact a permanent ban on AI data centers in Eastport
On August 12th, 2026 the Eastport City Council unanimously passed a 180 day moratorium on AI data centers. Councilors said the temporary moratorium gives more time to assess the zoning impacts of the two citizen proposed ordinances.
A special public hearing for both ordinances will be held at the upcoming Eastport Planning Board at a on Monday, August 24th, 2026 at 6pm in the Port Authority Building on 141 Water Street, Eastport.
From the Eastport City Council Website—
Planning Board Public Hearing on Proposed Ordinances
Monday, August 24, 2026
The Eastport Planning Board will hold a public hearing on August 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Port Authority Building Lower Level.
The purpose of the hearing(s) is to receive public input for the Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Large Scale Data Centers and the Proposed Ordinance Requiring Voter Approval for Commercial and Industrial Development. Copies of the ordinances are available here:
• Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Large Scale Data Centers
• Proposed Ordinance Requiring Voter Approval for Commercial and Industrial Development
Please note that while the meeting can be viewed remotely at the Zoom link below, this is a listen only option:
Zoom Meeting ID: 884 3944 2691
Passcode: eastport
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88439442691?pwd=Ty9YMkxXeHNMRDV2NGwySUcwME5Cdz09
At the State Level: Upcoming Public Listening Sessions on AI Data Centers: Aug 27th and Sept 1st
On April 24, 2026, Governor Janet Mills vetoed legislation that would have established a moratorium on the development of large AI data centers in Maine until the end of 2027.
Four day later, Mills established the Maine Data Center Advisory Council to ”provide strategic input, facilitate coordinated state planning, and evaluate policy tools to address large-scale data center opportunities and related benefits and risks to the State of Maine.”
The Maine Data Center Advisory Council webpage states:
“The Council evaluates issues related to large-scale data centers located or proposed to be located in Maine, with the goals of protecting ratepayers, maintaining electric grid reliability, minimizing environmental impacts, and enabling responsible and appropriately sited economic development. The Council is directed to consider the State’s policy goals related to renewable energy, greenhouse gas reduction objectives, broadband service goals, the state economic development strategy, and the legislative findings for natural resources protection set forth in Title 38, §480-A.“
The Council has been charged with submitting a final report with findings and any recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Governor and the Legislature no later than January 29, 2027.
To these ends the Council will be holding two public virtual listening sessions on Zoom on Thursday August 27, 1-2:30pm and Tuesday September 1, 5-7pm.
Upcoming Public Listening Sessions
August 27 and September 1, 2026
There will be virtual public listening sessions held in August and September to gather public input that will support the work of the Council. These sessions will be held via Zoom and will provide a brief overview of the Council’s work to date as well as opportunities for attendees to share verbal comments with the Council. Written comments will also be accepted via an online survey that will launch next week.
Please register using the links below:
• August 27, 2026, from 1:00pm-2:30pm via Zoom. Register here.
• September 1, 2026, from 5:00pm-7:00pm via Zoom. Register here.
