Bucksport Council Passes Data Center Moratorium in 5-2 Vote

The Bucksport Town Council voted 5-2 to adopt a six-month moratorium on data centers after a public hearing where residents raised concerns about electricity use, water consumption, noise, and environmental harm. The council also reviewed first-quarter financial reports, approved routine licenses and ordinances, and authorized court action over land use violations.

Key points

• The council approved the data center moratorium 5-2, with Councillor Rankin opposing and citing concerns that a blanket moratorium would also block small data centers; the chair and other councillors supported pausing to develop regulations.
• Residents spoke in favor of the moratorium, citing the town's roughly 4-megawatt electricity use compared with proposed industrial-scale facilities, water and noise impacts, and the town's history with the former mill and river contamination.
• The town manager reported first-quarter expenses at 21 percent of budget against an expected 25 percent, with revenue at 45 percent collected, and noted higher-than-anticipated ambulance uncollectibles tied to insurance payment limits.
• The council approved a resolve authorizing Rule 80-K court action for land use violations and voted to list the town-owned property at 206 Upper Long Pond Road for sale after receiving no bids.
• The council approved a first-time food services license for Aroma Joe's and a liquor license renewal for Carrier's Main Lobster, and advanced a first reading amending town code on council committee authority.
• A lengthy discussion preceded approval of a festival public entertainment license for a Christmas tree lighting and winter festival, with councillors raising concerns about overlap with an already-approved holiday lights parade and about who pays for public safety.

Next steps

• The council will hold a public hearing and second reading on the ordinance clarifying council committee authority at its next meeting.
• The town manager said the town dock project could begin November 15 if approved at the next council meeting, which may require rethinking event staging and parking in that area.
• The Parks and Recreation Board recommended removing boards from the unused ice rink for safety, with work to begin Tuesday; the board will meet in January on deteriorating tennis and basketball courts and the closed town pool.
• The council moved into executive session to discuss a personnel matter under 1 MRS 4056-A.

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