Daily Digest — March 24, 2026
Baltimore City Council Proposes One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen introduced legislation Monday to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development within the city, as reported by WBFF. The proposed measure would classify data centers — defined as facilities requiring 10 megawatts or more of electrical power — as a prohibited zoning use category citywide for one year.
According to The Daily Gazette, the moratorium is separate from a bill introduced by Councilman Zac Blanchard that would prohibit data centers in tax increment financing districts. Councilwoman Phylicia Porter has also called for an informational hearing involving five city agencies — Planning, Law, Finance, Health, and Public Works — to examine data centers' economic benefits and potential risks.
The legislative push follows resident complaints about surging utility bills and a recent halting of a BGE transmission project in South Baltimore, as reported by CBS News. The Maryland Office of the People's Council has called for an investigation into the BGE transmission line project at Baltimore Peninsula, where a data center could potentially be built. State leaders including Governor Wes Moore and Senate President Bill Ferguson have introduced a separate energy bill package requiring data centers to fund their own energy infrastructure upgrades.
Per thebanner.com, Baltimore County Council unanimously voted for a temporary data center ban in February, and Prince George's County issued a pause last year. BGE has stated its commitment to ensuring large energy users pay for necessary grid upgrades, according to WBAL-TV. The moratorium legislation is slated for committee review and a public hearing.
Baltimore considers data center freeze as residents face surging BGE bills
The Daily Gazette
Baltimore City Council introduces one-year moratorium on data centers
WBFF
Baltimore City Council introduces bill that would put one-year pause on data centers
CBS News
Council President Zeke Cohen wants to ban data centers in Baltimore — temporarily
thebanner.com
'Pay their own way': City Council president calls for yearlong moratorium on data center development
WBAL-TV
Festus, Missouri Advances $6 Billion Data Center Proposal Amid Resident Opposition
The Festus City Council is reviewing a framework agreement for a $6 billion hyperscale data center proposed by developer CRG on 360 acres off Highway 67, according to KSDK. The city projects approximately $45 million in revenue over the next decade, including $1.3 billion in property and utility taxes and $5 million earmarked for a new firehouse.
Under the proposed agreement, CRG would coordinate with Ameren Missouri to cover all energy use and necessary electrical infrastructure, and would fund all required water and sewer upgrades, as reported by KSDK News. An unnamed technology tenant would bear all energy costs, with a binding agreement with Ameren to prevent costs from passing to Jefferson County residents.
A significant point of contention is a clause mandating the developer buy out homes within 1,000 feet of an active data center building, potentially impacting 12 homes on Glenkee Court, per KSDK. The city council meeting was relocated to Festus High School to accommodate the large crowd, as reported by FOX 2 St. Louis. A council vote is expected later this week, according to KSDK News.
Festus unveils $6B data center plan, sparking tension amid local economic promises
KSDK
Data center debate heats up in Festus
FOX 2 St. Louis
Festus reaches framework agreement on data center
KSDK News
City leaders reach tentative deal on data center in Festus
KSDK News
Festus advances $6B data center plan amid buyout concerns
KSDK News
Pennsylvania Fast Track Program Faces Scrutiny Over Data Center Projects; Archbald and Jessup Hearings Postponed
Residents and elected officials in Archbald, Pennsylvania, are challenging the state's PA Permit Fast Track Program after it accepted a data center project known as "Project Gravity," according to WVIA Public Media. The proposed seven-building data center campus by Archbald 25 Developer LLC covers 186 acres with a projected $5 billion investment. State Senator Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe) is co-sponsoring legislation for a three-year data center moratorium.
Governor Shapiro's administration has introduced the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) program, setting standards for data center developers, and will now prioritize Fast Track applications only from projects adhering to these guidelines. Separately, NorthPoint's "Project Hazlenut" in Hazle Township, also a Fast Track project, had its land development plan denied by local supervisors.
Meanwhile, Archbald Borough was forced to cancel a hearing for a separate conditional use application by Archbald I LLC for an 18-building data center campus because required public notices were not published, as reported by the Scranton Times-Tribune. Over 100 residents attended despite the cancellation, according to fox56.com. The "Stop Archbald Data Centers" group has distributed over 700 yard signs and is raising funds for legal action.
In neighboring Jessup Borough, a zoning hearing for a height variance request by Sunnyside Road Associates LLC for a 487,000-square-foot, 90-foot-tall data center was also postponed due to a family emergency involving a key witness, per the Times-Tribune. A new hearing date is being targeted for late April.
Sangamon County Board Tables CyrusOne Data Center Vote After Public Opposition
The Sangamon County Board voted 15-13 to table a conditional use zoning permit for a proposed $500 million CyrusOne hyperscale data center, as reported by Illinois Times. Over 700 residents attended the nearly four-hour meeting at the BOS Center in Springfield, with speakers largely opposing the plan.
Key project details, per NPR Illinois and The Daily Yonder:
- 280 acres of farmland in Talkington Township, southwest of Springfield
- 634-megawatt capacity
- Projected $98 million in property taxes over 20 years
- Approximately 100 permanent jobs
- No tax abatements requested by CyrusOne
Residents raised concerns about farmland conversion, noise, air pollution, and potential electricity rate increases. CyrusOne stated a closed-loop cooling system would minimize water needs. The Coalition for Springfield's Utility Future had previously sought a county-wide moratorium, which the Zoning and Land Use Commission rejected in February 2026.
A board member would need to motion to bring the proposal out of committee for reconsideration at the next meeting on April 7, according to Illinois Times. The article also notes that Logan County recently enacted a 60-day moratorium on data center applications, and Pekin rejected a proposed project this month. At the state level, the Illinois POWER Act is being debated to regulate data center development, following Governor Pritzker's February announcement of a two-year moratorium on tax incentives for data centers.
Illinois Is Taking a Close Look at the Potential Effects of the Data Center Boom
The Daily Yonder
Emotional plea helps lead to vote being tabled on $500M data center
The State Journal-Register
County Board votes to table data center proposal
Illinois Times
Sangamon County Board tables vote on controversial data center
The State Journal-Register
The Sangamon County Board tables a vote on a massive data center
NPR Illinois
Shelbyville, Indiana Council Hears Resident Concerns on Prologis Data Center
The Shelbyville Common Council held a meeting where residents raised concerns about a proposed Prologis data center, according to The Addison Times. Resident Connie Lindsay questioned the timing of the proposed data center ordinance relative to an April 6 annexation vote and presented a petition advocating for a moratorium on data center development.
Mayor Scott Furgeson stated that officials and legal counsel are actively developing a comprehensive development agreement tied to the annexation. Council member Betsy Means Davis highlighted existing protections within current ordinances while emphasizing the need for additional guidelines, including setbacks and visual buffers. No formal action was taken during the session.
El Paso Holds First Community Meeting on Data Center Policy Framework
The City of El Paso held its first community meeting on a new data center policy framework, drawing a standing-room-only crowd to the Don Haskins Recreational Center, as reported by KFOX. The city is hosting a series of six community meetings to develop the policy, which was directed by the El Paso City Council.
Attendees expressed frustration with the meeting's small-group discussion format and raised environmental concerns about water and electricity demands for data centers in the desert region, per KVIA and KTSM. Questions were raised about why the policy is being developed after the Meta AI data center project is already underway. The city's communications director stated she could not confirm whether new rules would apply to projects already in progress.
