'Pay their own way': City Council president calls for yearlong moratorium on data center development

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen has introduced legislation for a year-long moratorium on data center development within the city. This proposed pause aims to allow the city to conduct a study, authorized by the General Assembly, to establish a process for registering "large load customers" like data centers and ensure they cover the costs of necessary utility infrastructure, rather than shifting these expenses to city residents. Cohen's initiative addresses concerns over rising utility bills and the potential strain on the power grid. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson previously introduced legislation to ban data centers in certain zones, which led utility provider Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) to pause a transmission line project in South Baltimore that had faced opposition. Residents, including Celine Brundridge, support Cohen's proposal, citing worries about data centers' high water consumption and their potential adverse effects on ecological systems, specifically the Chesapeake Bay. During the moratorium, the city plans to develop comprehensive regulations for data centers, focusing on their impact on human health, the environment, and affordability. BGE, under its "Exelon Promise," has committed to ensuring large energy users pay for their growth-related infrastructure to protect residential and small business customers. Cohen's legislation is now slated for review by a committee and will undergo a public hearing.