TeraWulf gets federal approval for Morgantown plant amid data center debate

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the sale of the Morgantown Generating Station in Newburg, Maryland, to TeraWulf Inc. TeraWulf, a Maryland-based company, acquired the grid-connected power generation facility, which has approximately 210 megawatts of operational capacity, on February 2. While TeraWulf's Chief Strategy Officer, Kerri Langlais, did not directly confirm plans to convert the site into a data center, she indicated that future digital infrastructure load is expected to be paired with incremental on-site generation and battery storage.

This development occurs a week after Charles County commissioners unanimously voted to withdraw a zoning text amendment that would have permitted data centers in the county. The commissioners opted to await a state report and further information on establishing a task force to study the matter. County planning director Charles Rice stated that local governments in Charles County possess significant autonomy over land use decisions without state approval. However, the Maryland Department of the Environment has previously communicated its intention to expedite the review of any applications from TeraWulf for a voluntary cleanup program and permits, including natural gas rights-of-way.

The sale has drawn opposition from local groups, including the Port Tobacco River Conservancy. President Tina Wilson expressed concerns regarding the site's environmental cleanup status and TeraWulf's potential plans to expand a gas pipeline. Wilson is advocating for the Maryland General Assembly to implement a statewide moratorium on data center construction for at least three years, citing numerous unanswered questions and potential impacts on the environment, community health, and infrastructure.