Baltimore City Council introduces bill that would put one-year pause on data centers

The Baltimore City Council is considering a bill to enact a one-year moratorium on the construction of large data centers within the city. The proposed pause is a response to escalating energy bills for Marylanders and growing concerns among residents and council members about the impact of these facilities. City Council President Zeke Cohen emphasized the need for a "timeout," suggesting that data centers contribute to high utility costs while shareholders profit. Councilwoman Phylicia Porter and Councilman Mark Conway also voiced concerns about the projects' effects on local infrastructure, the health of residents, and the potential for creating uninhabited areas within neighborhoods, lacking local businesses. The push for a moratorium follows a call by the Maryland Office of the People's Council for an investigation into a BGE transmission line project at the Baltimore Peninsula, where a data center could potentially be built. State Senate President Bill Ferguson, Governor Wes Moore, and House Speaker Joseline Pe Melynk have also introduced a separate energy bill package in Annapolis aimed at requiring data centers to fund their own energy infrastructure upgrades. BGE, in a statement, reiterated its commitment to ensuring large energy users, including data centers, pay for necessary grid upgrades to shield residential and small business customers from unfair cost impacts. The Baltimore City Council plans to hold an informational hearing on the community impact of data centers before proceeding to a final vote on the moratorium measure.