Lewiston City Council has voted down a proposal for a Tier III AI data center in the Bates Mill No.3 in downtown Lewiston, Maine.

As reported by WGME, councillors shot down the proposal amid significant concern over the development.

The proposed data center would have taken up the first two floors of Bates Mill No.3, around 85,000 sq ft (7,896 sqm), becoming Maine’s second-largest AI data center.

City councilors spoke of the significant public backlash from the proposal, stating that such concerns couldn’t be ignored.

One councilor, Tim Gallant, reportedly described the project as unusually large and noted that the developer had not provided satisfactory answers to the council.

Public concern was spread across a number of issues, with some describing environmental concerns of a large local data center, while others raised concerns about AI’s impact on artists and creative industries.

All seven city councilors voted against the proposed project. WGME reported that this project will not be considered again by the council.