Weird Town Begs for AI Data Center

Jay, a small Maine town of 4,600 residents, is seeking an unconventional solution to revive its stagnant economy – a data center. Despite state governor Janet Mills vetoing a ban on new data centers, Jay is eager to bring one due to a unique circumstance. The town's main employer, the Androscoggin Mill, which employed over 1,500 people, suddenly exploded in 2020, leaving no one dead but causing massive destruction.

Developer Tony McDonald is pushing for a data center on a 1,000-acre site formerly occupied by the mill, promising economic benefits and environmental advantages. McDonald argues that the data center would use less water, tap into existing mill power permits, and rely on solar panels for additional power generation. He claims the mill's past would not be as loud or smelly as the proposed data center.

McDonald initially kept his plans from the town's board but quickly rallied their support after learning about the state's moratorium on new data centers. The town unanimously approved a letter to Governor Mills, seemingly without any clear explanation for the sudden change. Despite McDonald's claims of creating 125 to 150 high-paying jobs, the reality may be less optimistic as Sentinel, the data center firm, unexpectedly backed out, putting the project on hold indefinitely.