Senate committee finds Loring Development Authority met review standards after update on PFAS, data center interest and workforce housing plans

Sen. Chip Curry and the Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development reviewed the Loring Development Authority on Feb. 9, 2026, and by voice straw poll indicated the authority met the committee’s statutory review standards.

Jonathan Judkins, president and CEO of the Loring Development Authority, told the committee the authority now has two full‑time staff and 13 trustees and has completed a recent audit with operational recommendations but no findings that would raise statutory compliance concerns. He said Loring contracted RHR Smith for the audit and filed an unaudited 2025 financial statement in the committee packet.

Judkins outlined tenant growth during fiscal 2025 — including Aero Intelligence, Northwoods LLC ground stations, a Space Force‑related tower tenant and several manufacturing and service tenants — and said the Mansour Drive housing project expanded from 14 to 37 rental units under new property management. He said workforce housing and associated community services (day care, grocery access) are central to Loring’s economic development strategy.

The presentation addressed infrastructure and environmental challenges. Judkins said Loring has been awarded wastewater funding to address groundwater infiltration and that progress has been made on phases 1–5; he warned additional funding is needed to complete later phases and to address contaminants such as PFAS. He described ongoing testing, partnerships with Maine DEP and the U.S. Air Force cleanup team, and vendor approaches for PFAS remediation; he said some contaminated soil was removed by the Air Force at no cost to the authority and that remediation options (cleanse versus replacement) carry substantial costs.

Committee members asked about procurement practices and apparent legacy procurement entries over $10,000. Judkins said the authority is updating procurement and personnel policies and that geographic isolation sometimes limits vendor choice. He said the board is undertaking a broad review of leases and procurement documents in 2026 and will issue RFPs for environmental services and other support.

Members also queried the relationship with private developer Green for Maine and plans for a proposed data center; Judkins said Green for Maine is a Portland‑area developer already active on campus and that the proposed data center operator is Liquid Cool. He said Green for Maine’s additional land acquisitions are contingent on job and space metrics and that a June 30 milestone will clarify next steps.

Judkins described military training partnerships, including Operation Northern Phoenix, which reactivated Loring’s runway for joint Maine and New Hampshire Air National Guard training and helped attract additional federal contracts. He invited committee members to observe the June training exercise.

Following the presentation and Q&A, the chair entertained a motion and members moved and seconded that the committee indicate Loring met statutory standards for the quasi‑independent review. The committee took a voice straw poll and instructed staff to include the finding in a letter to the Government Oversight Committee. The transcript records the motion and a voice affirmation; no roll‑call vote or individual tallies were recorded.

The committee asked staff to circulate updated procurement policies and other materials Judkins referenced.

Why it matters: Loring’s redevelopment of a former Air Force base carries implications for rural employment, infrastructure costs and environmental remediation. Committee review and the authority’s planned JTIF proposal could shape state financial support and local utility arrangements as redevelopment proceeds.

Next steps: The committee will include its findings in a letter to the Government Oversight Committee; staff will follow up to obtain the procurement and policy documents Judges referenced and to track the June milestone for Green for Maine’s parcel acquisitions.