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Skowhegan board schedules ordinance workshop and flags data-center concerns
Summary
The planning board set an ordinance workshop to review updates — including the public camping ordinance after a June 2024 Supreme Court ruling — and raised constituent concerns about data-center siting, energy and water use; staff will consult town counsel and MMA legal resources.
The Skowhegan planning board used its May 15 meeting to confirm an ordinance workshop later in the month and to flag constituent concerns about data-center siting in the region.
A board member reported an email from Amber Lampy raising questions about data centers and said some communities are considering moratoriums while others are pursuing projects on large mill sites. The member noted common community concerns: high energy demand and cooling needs that may drive siting near water or large utility connections.
Separately, a board member summarized the town’s concern about the public camping ordinance and recounted a June 2024 Supreme Court decision that limits municipal authority to ban public camping where shelter space is not available. The board agreed to circulate draft ordinance language to the town attorney and to consult Maine Municipal Association (MMA) legal resources to ensure any revisions are legally defensible before forwarding items to the select board for town-meeting consideration.
Board members said staff will research the status of any state legislation on data centers and report back at a future meeting; no formal votes were taken on policy changes at this session.
