Harford County becomes first in Maryland to outright ban data centers

Harford County, Maryland, has enacted an immediate ban on data centers, becoming the first county in the state to do so. County Executive Bob Cassilly proposed the emergency Bill 26-011, which passed unanimously in a County Council meeting on Tuesday night and went into effect immediately. The decision follows strong support from residents who voiced concerns over potential negative impacts such as increased water usage, higher electricity bills, and environmental degradation.

Steven Overbay from the Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development stated that a single hyperscale data center could consume enough electricity to power over 100,000 homes, potentially doubling the county's residential electricity demand and driving up energy costs. However, the bill's language has drawn criticism regarding its lack of differentiation between types of data centers, with Havre De Grace resident Jimmy Paquette warning that this ambiguity could make the ban vulnerable to legal challenges by developers.

The Maryland Tech Council released a statement condemning Bill 26-011 as "vague, legally dubious," and an impediment to economic opportunity. They argue the legislative process disregarded facts that could have clarified concerns about data centers and that the ban exposes the county to potential litigation. Resident Anne Blocker also noted the discussion around job creation, suggesting Harford County's economy does not require data centers at the expense of local land and homes.