Johns Hopkins advances $192M data center as Baltimore debates moratorium

Johns Hopkins University is moving forward with a significant $192 million expansion of its computing infrastructure at its Bayview campus in Baltimore, Maryland. The Maryland Board of Public Works recently approved $9.04 million in state funding for the new 25,000-square-foot data center. This facility is intended to bolster the university's Advanced Research Computing at Hopkins (ARCH) program and support data-intensive research across various fields, including life sciences, biomedical research, and artificial intelligence, while incorporating advanced cooling technologies to enhance energy efficiency. This development unfolds as the Baltimore City Council actively debates legislation proposing a temporary moratorium on new data center construction exceeding 10 megawatts within the city. During a Land Use Committee hearing, residents like Raychel Gadson and groups such as the Chesapeake Climate Action Network voiced strong opposition. Critics argue that large-scale data centers pose significant threats to Maryland's climate goals, strain the electrical grid, increase utility costs for residents, and impact public health and water resources. Brittany Baker, Maryland director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, specifically highlighted the lack of adequate regulations to manage the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centers and warned against allowing development during a moratorium period. Despite the criticisms and ongoing debate, Johns Hopkins University defended its Bayview expansion, emphasizing its role in meeting current and future research demands. The university clarified that its separate Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute in Remington is not a data center and is not expected to have high electricity consumption. The proposed moratorium legislation, which aligns with similar measures considered or enacted in nearby Baltimore, Carroll, and Montgomery counties, remains under consideration by the City Council, with its fate yet to be determined.