Vermont Data Center News

Apr 4, 2026

Maine Set to Become First State to Halt New AI Data Centers

Maine lawmakers have passed a bill to pause new large-scale data center projects of 20 megawatts or more until November 2027.

Main action: The Maine House passed legislation to pause new data center projects ≥20 megawatts (roughly enough to power 15,000–20,000 homes) until November 2027; the bill is expected to advance in the Maine Senate where Democrats hold a majority and Gov. Janet Mills has signaled support with potential exemptions for projects already in progress.
Context and details: The proposal was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and aims to study impacts on electricity costs, the power grid, land and water; U.S. data centers used about 183 terawatt-hours in 2024 (>4% of U.S. power use) with that figure expected to more than double by 2030. The issue has federal attention — President Donald Trump has urged tech firms to cover more infrastructure/energy costs, and Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have proposed national legislation to temporarily pause data center construction. Similar moratoria proposals are under consideration in at least 10 other states including New York, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.

Mar 30, 2026

It’s Time to End Data Centers’ Massive Tax Break

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is urging Virginia legislators and Governor Spanberger to eliminate or phase out the $1.9 billion annual sales tax exemption for data center equipment and is mobilizing constituents to contact their representatives before the legislature reconvenes.

Main announcement/action: PEC asks Virginians to urge the General Assembly and Governor Spanberger to end or phase out the $1.9 billion annual sales tax break for data centers; the Senate’s budget would phase out the exemption while the House keeps it. Key dates and actions: reconvene April 23 (legislature), advocacy kick-off Zoom call March 30 at 6:30 p.m. (register link provided), and a “Send Your Email” action page to contact delegates, senators and the governor today.
Background and details: PEC cites Dominion Energy’s 70 GWs of load requests and ongoing monthly >1 GW requests, estimates of over $100 billion in new generation/transmission/substation infrastructure (including $30 billion for transmission and a 114-mile, 765 kilovolt proposed line), and an independent PEC analysis estimating $53–$99 million/year in health damages from on-site fossil generation at a Loudoun County facility. Also summarizes bill statuses (HB153/SB94; SB553/HB496; HB507; SB619/HB155; SB339/HB658).

Mar 27, 2026

Sanders, AOC Introduce Bill to Pause Data Center Growth

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill to pause new data center construction until worker, consumer and environmental safeguards are implemented.

Action: The bill would impose a moratorium on new data centers pending implementation of safeguards to address artificial intelligence risks, worker protections, consumer protections, and environmental impacts; sponsors are Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the legislation is described as unlikely to advance in the House or Senate.
Background/details: The piece notes rising electricity use (a typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity as 100,000 households) and references the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program’s $21 billion nondeployment funds as a potential source states might use for data center development; voices quoted include Sen. John Fetterman, President Donald Trump, Chris Jordan (National League of Cities), and Jacob Levin (CTC Technology & Energy).

Mar 11, 2026

General Assembly Budget Conferees Need to Invest in Quality of Life, Not Big Tech

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) has called on Virginia lawmakers to eliminate or substantially limit the sales tax credit on data center equipment to redirect revenue to public services.

Main action: PEC submitted a letter to General Assembly leadership and budget conferees requesting elimination or phased reduction of the sales tax exemption on data center equipment, arguing the exemption cost more than $1.9 billion in FY2025 and could have raised state revenue from $31.2 billion to $33.1 billion if collected. The letter identifies priorities for redirected revenue: water supply and wastewater treatment, transportation and transit, schools, childcare, and food security.
Background and details: PEC cites Dominion Energy data that it is receiving requests for ~10 additional data center applications monthly totaling 2–3 GW, bringing cumulative demand to 70 GW, while current peak demand is 24 GW with >36% electricity imports. PEC estimates Dominion will need to invest over $100 billion in generation, transmission and substation infrastructure (including nearly $30 billion for transmission) to meet the backlog over the next ten years.

Feb 27, 2026 · RMI

Why Communities Can and Must Consider Electricity Affordability and Risk Together

Stephen Abbott of RMI argues that communities should consider electricity affordability and risk together and pursue diverse, distributed energy portfolios rather than relying solely on large centralized fossil-fuel generation.

Main announcement/action: Communities and local governments should adopt portfolio-based energy strategies (energy efficiency, batteries, renewables, virtual power plants, and other flexible resources) to reduce price volatility and operational risk; RMI highlights concrete examples including data center-driven load growth of 32% by 2030, and Burlington’s 59,204 MWh annual reduction from its energy efficiency program.
Background and details: The piece cites recent cost and risk evidence: ComEd provided $277 million (2024) for efficiency programs yielding an estimated $3.2 billion in customer savings; reliance on fossil fuels produced at least $390 million in excess costs for communities around the Prairie State Energy Campus over four years; typical monthly fuel charges in Florida doubled from ~$20 to ~$40 (2020–2023); utilities such as TVA are proposing large new gas facilities as a conventional response.

Jan 13, 2026

Sertex to Expand Fiber Across Southeastern Vermont

Sertex Broadband Solutions has been awarded a $1.58 million contract to expand a community-owned fiber-to-the-home network in southeastern Vermont.

Contract value and scope: $1.58 million contract to add approximately 60 miles of new fiber across five towns (West Brattleboro, Dummerston, Marlboro, Newfane, Guilford); rollout in three phases through August 2026 (Phase 1: 18 miles connecting Marlboro and Guilford; Phase 2: 15 miles backbone and underground construction in Dummerston; Phase 3: 24 miles connecting Newfane and West Brattleboro).
Background and partners: Project builds on Sertex’s prior construction for Deerfield Valley Communications Union District (DVFiber) (Sertex previously built >300 miles for DVFiber); Great Works Internet provides service over the network and has connected nearly 5,000 locations; DVFiber was established in 2020 and serves 24 towns in southeastern Vermont.

Jan 10, 2026

Environment and Rule of Law Under Trump

The second Trump Administration has slashed environmental regulations and programs, rescinded environmental justice orders, curtailed climate reporting and grants, and moved to withdraw the U.S. from international climate agreements while seeking to repeal the EPA “endangerment finding.”

Administrative actions and rollbacks: The administration rescinded past environmental justice orders, stopped Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grants, eliminated EPA’s environmental justice arm, relaxed air and water pollution limits, and proposed ending mandatory greenhouse gas reporting; it also announced withdrawal from IPCC processes and the UNFCCC (the treaty was ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1992 and went into effect in 1993). EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is expected to issue a final decision repealing the endangerment finding “this month” (Jan 2026), which would trigger judicial review in the D.C. Circuit and likely further appeals to the Supreme Court.
Legal and project-specific details / background:States, environmental groups and courts are challenging many rollbacks; a NYU study alleges repeated DOJ misrepresentations to courts, and the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has intervened earlier in cases; the administration has stopped five major offshore wind farms (one — the Revolution Farm off Rhode Island — was reported ~80% complete and a court ordered it allowed to finish), halted solar development on public lands, and opened the Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas development. Courts, appeals panels with numerous Trump appointees, and Congressional dynamics are central to implementation timelines.

Jan 2, 2026

State Broadband Bills of 2025: A Legislative Review

State legislatures across the United States enacted and considered broadband-related legislation in 2025; fewer than 140 of more than 600 proposed bills became law.

Main actions: States enacted laws prioritizing infrastructure and permitting reforms, pole and rights-of-way access, criminal penalties for theft/vandalism, state broadband funding, and data center incentives. Notable enacted measures include Hawaii H 934 (established a state Broadband Office and programs, enacted in June and backed by $400 million in combined funding), West Virginia SB 907 (expanded the Economic Development Project Fund to allow up to $25 million annually for broadband incentives and up to $125 million annually for broadband loan insurance) and West Virginia HB 2014 (signed in April; created microgrid districts with zoning/permitting exemptions and special property tax treatment for qualifying projects).
Additional details and timelines: States also raised criminal penalties (e.g., Oklahoma classified willful damage to a critical infrastructure facility as a Class D3 felony with fines up to $100,000 and prison up to 10 years; Louisiana authorized fines up to $50,000 and prison up to 20 years; California AB 476 increased penalties for knowingly buying illegally obtained scrap metal to $5,000). Other enacted programs include California SB 338 (a $2 million telehealth pilot), New Mexico SB 126 (Rural USF increased from $30 million to $40 million), and Oregon’s device support up to $100 in Lifeline-related assistance. At least 37 states passed data center incentives in 2025 and over 1,000 AI-focused bills were introduced nationwide, with ~38 states adopting or enacting roughly 100 AI measures in 2025.

Dec 23, 2025

‘We finally have a tool to at least shave some tenths of a degree off’: author Bill McKibben on the promise of renewable energy

Bill McKibben argues renewable energy now provides a practical tool to reduce warming by tenths of a degree and highlights China’s leadership in mass deployment of solar and wind.

Main announcement/action: McKibben presents the central claim that cheap solar, wind and batteries are now a realistic tool to “shave some tenths of a degree off“ global warming; he cites 95% of new generating capacity last year coming from clean sources and that China was building three gigawatts of solar panels a day (scale cited in May). Include concrete examples: Pakistan cancelled delivery of 27 cargoloads of LNG last month after widespread rooftop solar uptake; the author organised Sun Day in September with 500 events across the US.
Background and details: He attributes slowed transition partly to the fossil fuel industry’s influence, noting “a billion dollars” and “about half a billion” in donations/advertising/lobbying referenced for US politics; he also notes the Vatican plans to become the first fully solar-powered nation when it flips the switch on a new solar farm next year (2026). All items are factual claims made in the interview; no speculative outcomes are included.

Dec 11, 2025

What to Do With Remaining BEAD Funds, a.k.a 'Non-Deployment'?

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice prioritizing lowest-cost bids, voiding previously approved state plans, and rescinding authorization for non-deployment activities.

Main action and effects: NTIA’s June 6 BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice requires states to resubmit plans within 90 days, eliminates scoring criteria for labor practices, climate resilience, and affordability, and replaces multi-criteria evaluation with a single metric—total BEAD cost per location; NTIA now estimates roughly $21 billion in BEAD “savings” across 56 states and territories.
Background and specifics: States had planned to use non-deployment funds for workforce development, digital literacy, telehealth, device subsidies, and community anchor institution connections (examples: Louisiana $510 million, Florida ~$200 million); litigation risk and Congressional pushback (bipartisan letters, proposed RECAPTURE Act) are active, and NTIA has promised guidance in early 2026. The draft White House executive order would link eligibility for remaining funds to state AI regulatory frameworks, adding a legal and political dimension.

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