Saco ME data center moratorium (2026)
Saco, ME — City Council Enacts a 61-Day Citywide Data Center Moratorium and Extends It 60 Days to November 28, 2026
Saco, ME · City of Saco, Me., data center moratorium (Aug. 2026; extended Sept. 28, 2026 to Nov. 28, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- November 28, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers in Saco
- Enforced by
- City of Saco
In August 2026 the Saco City Council approved a 61-day temporary prohibition on data centers throughout the city, to give staff time to add data center rules to the city code. On September 28, 2026 the council extended it by 60 days, to November 28, 2026. The moratorium says the current code does not adequately protect the public, neighbors, utility ratepayers and the environment from possible effects such as noise, heat and emissions. The city administrator said Saco will likely keep extending it until the state's data center task force reports in December.
Who is protected: Saco residents, abutters and utility ratepayers
Legal detail
City of Saco (York County), Me. Original action: Council approved a 61-day temporary prohibition of data centers citywide at a Monday-night meeting reported by Saco Bay News on Aug. 6, 2026 (exact date not stated in the article), renewable for 60 days. Extension: Council voted Monday night (Sept. 28, 2026; article dated Sept. 29) to extend 60 days; Press Herald states it is 'now set to expire Nov. 28.' Moratorium findings: current code doesn't adequately protect 'the public, abutters, utility ratepayers and the environment' from adverse effects including noise, heat and emissions. Staff studying water supply, roads, waste management. City Administrator Ryan Pelletier: city will likely continue to extend pending the Maine Data Center Advisory Task Force's December report. Vote counts not stated. Enacted date left null because the August meeting date is not stated in the sources opened.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Saco, ME |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Citation | City of Saco, Me., data center moratorium (Aug. 2026; extended Sept. 28, 2026 to Nov. 28, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in sources opened |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Saco extends temporary data center ban by another 2 months — Portland Press Herald |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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