The Maine Legislature is considering a bill that would put a temporary moratorium on data centers in Maine.

"The reason for the temporary limitation is to make sure that the transparency that communities need, that the regulatory framework for these businesses is known and certain," said Rep. Melanie Sachs, D-Freeport.

Sachs is the bill's sponsor. She said that this is an attempt to make sure Maine is ready for these types of centers and is focused on the infrastructure needed for these facilities.

The owner of the Jay Mill is preparing to break ground on a new data center at the mill this summer, but if the legislature passes it, that could throw a wrench in that plan.

"When we set out to redevelop the, we looked at the existing electrical infrastructure there, which is very robust because of the paper mill. There's a lot of power there. So what we're proposing to do is really a plug-and-play. We just using that existing infrastructure," said the mill's owner, Tony McDonald.

McDonald wants an exemption from the legislature, which would require an amendment.

The committee's minority report includes exemptions, the majority report does not. It's not clear which report will get votes in the chambers.

This bill could get votes on the floors of the House and Senate as early as Thursday.