Harford County's top executive proposes ban on data centers

Harford County, Maryland, is currently grappling with the increasing demand for data centers, leading to a significant proposal from its top executive. County Executive Bob Cassilly is advocating for an outright ban on data centers within the county, escalating from an earlier suggestion for a 90-day moratorium on new requests. Cassilly stated, "We've say, no, we're we're not there stop. The discussion is no reason for moratoriums. Let's just all say, no, this is not the right time for these things." His proposal follows a plan to convert the Mountain Branch Golf Course in Joppa into a data center site, which met resistance from county leaders. Cassilly has conducted extensive research, sending a multidisciplinary team to Northern Virginia to study existing data center impacts. He concluded that data centers present "really serious challenges" for Harford County, particularly concerning energy consumption. Key environmental concerns highlighted by Cassilly include massive electricity use, millions of gallons of water per day, and noise pollution, all of which contribute to a "failing grade" in his assessment. Beyond the golf course owners, Cassilly noted that at least three other major property owners have approached his administration about selling land for data centers, driven by the prospect of significant profits. Meanwhile, organized opposition to data centers is growing. A group named "Our Land Our Home, Our Harford" has formed and is circulating a petition, which has garnered over 3,600 signatures to date, expressing strong disapproval of data center development in the county.