BIDDEFORD –– The city of Biddeford is moving to consider changes to the city’s land use code that could in effect ban new data center projects citywide.

The Biddeford City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to send proposed amendments to the code to the planning board for review.  

The changes, according to a presentation by City Planner David Galbraith, would reinforce the current ordinance, which already does not appear to allow data centers in the city.

Right now, data centers are so new they are not addressed in city codes at all. Since they are not listed as an “acceptable use” under the city’s land use code, Galbraith wrote, they are already not permitted. 

However, the proposed changes Galbraith outlined would add data centers to the code, but still not designate them as a “permitted use” under the land code.

“I believe this would essentially prohibit this type of use in all of our zoning districts,” Galbraith wrote in his memo to the city council. 

Galbraith described the changes as “fortifying” the city’s current position of not allowing the centers.

“Data centers raise numerous concerns related to electricity costs, large water usage, and environmental impacts,” Galbraith wrote. 

Galbraith also noted a failed attempt at a statewide ban on data centers, while municipalities such as Westbrook and Scarborough are taking action to pause approvals on data center projects.

The city council’s vote Tuesday sent the proposed changes to the code to the planning board. The board is now expected to hold a public hearing before issuing its recommendation to the city council for vote at a later date.