Baltimore County residents get a chance to weigh in on data centers
Baltimore County is holding hearings on a proposed extension of a data center moratorium through 2027, which has majority council support. Simultaneously, the county planning board will review a study providing recommendations on data center regulation, location, and their impact on water and electricity resources.
Baltimore County is poised to extend its moratorium on data center development through 2027, with the proposal set for a council hearing. Republican Councilman David Marks indicated the measure has majority support among current council members, emphasizing the need for extensive public input and the involvement of the incoming nine-member council, which will include at least six new members taking office in December. The current moratorium is set to expire by the end of this year.
Concurrently, the county planning board is scheduled to hold a separate hearing on a comprehensive 51-page study regarding data centers. This report offers recommendations for regulating data center locations within the county, suggesting prohibitions in agricultural areas and near residential neighborhoods. It also projects the anticipated demands on water and electricity resources, alongside the potential tax benefits for Baltimore County.
Democratic Councilman Pat Young has voiced concerns over the timing, criticizing the council's consideration of a moratorium extension prior to the official acceptance and review of the planning board's report, which the council itself commissioned. Young described the premature action as "political theater," asserting that the council had previously committed to responsible action by requesting the planning board's review.