Bucksport Council Advances Data Center Moratorium to Second Reading

The Bucksport Town Council voted to move a proposed six-month moratorium on data centers to a second reading and public hearing, following extended debate and roughly an hour of public comment. The council also advanced an updated general assistance ordinance, approved funding to rebid the town dock project, and renewed liquor licenses for two local businesses.

Key points

• The council voted to move the data center moratorium ordinance to a second reading and public hearing; the moratorium would run up to 180 days, and Councilor Hayer said he could support a pause but favored limiting it to facilities over 20 megawatts.
• Councilors disagreed over scope, with some arguing small and large data centers pose similar unanswered questions and others saying the state's study focuses on large-scale facilities.
• Residents spoke both for and against the moratorium, with supporters citing water, power, noise, and decommissioning concerns and opponents saying existing land use rules and the planning board review process are sufficient.
• The council advanced the first reading of an ordinance repealing and replacing appendices A through H of the general assistance ordinance, matching state maximums, to a second reading and public hearing.
• The council approved $9,900 to rebid the town dock project after the initial solicitation drew no bids, and approved liquor license renewals for Sweet Cheeks Diner and Bucksport House of Pizza.
• Ralph Chapman, chair of the Community Resilience Committee, told the council Bucksport was listed in a September 2 state press release as receiving $75,250 for a social vulnerability study and planning work.

Next steps

• The data center moratorium and the general assistance ordinance both head to a second reading and public hearing at the next council meeting.
• The town dock project will be put back out to bid.
• The Brown Hall Committee will host a candidates forum on October 6 at 6 p.m., and the Hancock County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2027 county budget on September 29 at 8:30 a.m.
• The town will consider internal candidates first for the posted Deputy Fire Chief and Deputy Police Chief positions.

Read the full transcript