Maryland Under Pressure as Local Moratoriums Supercharge Opposition to Data Centers -
Over 60 advocacy groups in Maryland are pressuring state leaders in Annapolis to enact a temporary statewide moratorium on new data center development. This push comes as 14 local jurisdictions in Maryland have already implemented their own temporary bans, highlighting concerns over environmental impacts, community burdens, and rising energy costs. The state legislature has commissioned a study on data center impacts, with its findings expected to inform future policy discussions.
More than 60 Maryland advocacy groups, including Food & Water Watch and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, are urging state leaders in Annapolis to implement a temporary moratorium on new data center proposals. This statewide call follows recent actions by 14 of Maryland's 24 local jurisdictions, which have already imposed temporary bans on data center development, highlighting a fragmented approach to regulating the power-intensive industry.
Advocates argue that rapid data center expansion has outpaced regulatory oversight, leading to concerns about increased energy costs for residents (citing a 44% rise in energy bills between 2020-2025), significant water withdrawal, and potential chemical contamination impacting vulnerable communities. Governor Wes Moore's administration acknowledges that data center developers, not ratepayers, should cover infrastructure costs and stresses the need for local engagement and environmental protection, but has not yet called for a statewide moratorium.
The Maryland legislature commissioned a study on data center impacts on air, water, the Chesapeake Bay, and the electricity grid, with a report due in September. While a previous Republican-led bill for a statewide moratorium (HB 120) failed, proponents expect renewed legislative efforts in upcoming sessions. University of Maryland Professor Yueming "Lucy" Qiu views a moratorium as a temporary planning tool to prevent costs and allow regulators time to improve load forecasts, though she cautions against solely blaming data centers for rising electricity rates. The Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group, advocates for collaborative regulatory frameworks over bans, citing economic benefits and industry commitment to paying its full energy costs.