Sanford Developers Envision More Than Just a Data Center

Proposed 1,000-acre 'Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus' could include industrial agriculture, cold storage, and on-site power generation.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Developers of a proposed data center project in Sanford, Maine say the plans go beyond just a data center, envisioning a larger 1,000-acre 'Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus' that could include industrial agriculture, cold storage, and on-site power generation capabilities that could potentially sell excess electricity back to the grid.

Why it matters

The developers' vision for a more expansive industrial campus, rather than just a standalone data center, could have significant implications for the town of Sanford in terms of tax revenue, employment, and the local power grid. However, some lawmakers have expressed skepticism about the project's potential impact on natural gas prices and electricity costs for other Mainers.

The details

The developers, Randy Gibbs and Walt Bussells, say the campus would generate its own power using fuel cells, initially running on natural gas but aiming to transition to hydrogen in the future. They claim the campus could be 'islanded' and completely disconnected from Maine's broader electrical grid, though some lawmakers have questioned whether that would truly insulate ratepayers from potential impacts. The developers say the project is still in early stages, with no data center developer yet secured, but they hope to begin providing power to a future tenant within 18 months of acquiring the property.

  • The developers say the project is in its 'nascent stages' and it will likely take months to ink a deal with a data center developer.
  • Once a data center developer is secured, the developers hope to begin providing them power within 18 months.

The players

Randy Gibbs

The prime developer of the proposed 'Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus'.

Walt Bussells

The development partner of Randy Gibbs and the 'Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus' project.

Sen. Matt Harrington

A Republican state senator from York who first mentioned the project last week, describing it primarily as a data center.

Rep. Christopher Kessler

A Democratic state representative from South Portland who voiced skepticism about the project's potential impact on natural gas prices and electricity costs.

Steven Buck

The city manager of Sanford, who said the campus could bring an 80% increase in the town's taxable valuation and a 60% reduction in the residential and commercial property tax burden.

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What they’re saying

“It's wrong to think of us solely as a data center project, as we envision much, much more.”

— Randy Gibbs, Prime Developer (pressherald.com)

“We'd connect to the grid if that would be desirable or beneficial in some way. But we intend to be, we would say, 'islanded' physically, operationally and financially.”

— Walt Bussells, Development Partner (pressherald.com)

“Adding a large buyer to the pool could increase local and regional demand for natural gas, hiking gas prices and 'inadvertently raising the cost of living for everybody else.'”

— Rep. Christopher Kessler (pressherald.com)

What’s next

The developers say it will likely take months for them to ink a deal with a data center developer to use the site, and once that happens, they hope to begin providing power to the tenant within 18 months.

The takeaway

While the proposed 'Sanford Woods Industrial and Technical Campus' is being billed as more than just a data center, its potential impact on the local power grid, natural gas prices, and municipal finances has raised concerns among some lawmakers that will need to be addressed as the project moves forward.