Harford County residents say no to potential data center in their community

Harford County, Maryland residents are voicing strong opposition to a proposed data center development in Joppa, citing concerns about its potential impact on their residential and agricultural community. Brian Cornell, a lifelong resident whose family has deep roots in the area, highlighted that the proposed site, a golf course adjacent to homes and farms, is unsuitable for such a facility. Residents are particularly worried about the disruption to their way of life, including the presence of horse and cattle farms nearby. County Councilman Jacob Bennett is responding to these concerns by introducing legislation for a 90-day moratorium on data center construction in Harford County. He emphasized the current lack of "guard rails" or protective regulations for the community, which presents significant risks. The moratorium aims to allow county officials to further investigate the benefits and risks associated with data centers, including their substantial water and electricity consumption, which according to sources like IBM and the International Energy Agency, can be millions of gallons daily and account for a significant percentage of global electricity. Residents, including Cornell, are preparing to actively fight against the project. A presentation on data centers is scheduled for an upcoming Harford County Council meeting, where Councilman Bennett intends to introduce the moratorium. Additionally, County Executive Bob Castley has publicly stated his opposition to data centers in Harford County, indicating broad governmental and community pushback.