What we learned this week about Baltimore’s plans for data centers
The Baltimore City Council is actively weighing new regulations and proposed changes to an existing temporary moratorium on data centers, which was enacted earlier this year. Public hearings have revealed significant community opposition, with many residents advocating for an outright ban. Proposed legislation includes a health equity assessment and a reduction in the megawatt threshold for facilities subject to the moratorium.
The Baltimore City Council is actively deliberating new regulations for data centers following an earlier enactment of a temporary one-year moratorium on facilities with a capacity of 10 megawatts or more. The council recently held hearings that saw numerous city residents express strong opposition, with many advocating for a complete ban on data center construction.
Among the proposals is Councilwoman Phylicia Porter's legislation, which would require a stringent health equity assessment for any proposed data center, evaluating its impact on drinking water and pollution. This assessment would become effective after the current moratorium lifts in July. Additionally, Councilman Mark Parker has proposed lowering the moratorium's threshold to include data centers with capacities of 5 megawatts or more, a measure yet to be debated.
During a listening session, representatives from PJM Interconnection, the Office of the People’s Counsel, and the Public Service Commission addressed concerns about data centers' impact on the local power grid, noting increased energy demand from facilities built outside Maryland that could affect Baltimore. Despite some existing data centers, city staff acknowledge an unclear total count and a prior lack of specific zoning code provisions for them before the moratorium. Council President Zeke Cohen indicated that all options, including a full ban, remain under consideration, emphasizing the importance of community feedback.