Maine Legislature must act quickly to regulate AI | Letter

With the spread of massive AI data centers across America, the Maine Legislature should work quickly to protect Maine. Already such ventures are not allowed to access the Maine State Business Development Tax Incentive Program. It is unfortunate that the governor vetoed the 180-day moratorium, but nevertheless much can be done.

The three main dangers these centers present are first, using a lot of power from our already barely adequate electric grid; second, the use of too much water to cool the facilities; and third, some of them create excessive noise.

Our legislators should pass laws soon to protect Mainers from all these problems. The first law could be a requirement that all AI data centers power themselves with on-site renewable energy so our grid is not affected. More demand for power from our system by these centers will raise the already high price of electricity in our state. Laws limiting their water use and noise production should follow. Several other states are ahead of us in passing such laws. It is important that the Legislature act now before it is too late to protect Maine.

Nancy Hasenfus
Brunswick

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Tagged: letter to the editor