Maryland must adopt a data center moratorium | GUEST COMMENTARY
This guest commentary advocates for a statewide data center moratorium in Maryland, citing concerns over high energy and water consumption, environmental impacts, and public opposition that has led several local governments to enact moratoriums. The authors urge state lawmakers to act and regulate the industry to protect residents and resources. The article highlights the inaction of the Maryland General Assembly regarding data center regulation despite local government efforts.
In a guest commentary for the Baltimore Sun, Jorge Aguilar, southern regional director for Food & Water Watch, and Dave Arndt, co-chair of the Maryland Legislative Coalition — Climate Justice Wing, call for a statewide moratorium on data center development in Maryland. They emphasize public opposition, noting that 7 in 10 Americans oppose AI data centers, and point to local actions, including six-month moratoriums enacted by Baltimore City and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in May and July, respectively, and an indefinite ban in Harford County in June.
The authors criticize the Maryland General Assembly for its failure to regulate the data center industry or protect residents, despite having overridden Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of a data center study bill in December 2025. They highlight the significant environmental and resource concerns posed by hyperscale AI data centers, including their high energy and water consumption, projected to equal that of 55 million and 18 million households by 2028, respectively. The commentary points to rising electricity bills and potential grid blackouts as direct consequences, also noting issues like heat, noise pollution, and e-waste.
As a specific example, the article references Atmosphere Data Centers' proposed 360-megawatt facility in Dickerson, which is planned to draw water from the drought-stricken Potomac River and be partly powered by fossil fuels. Aguilar and Arndt conclude that a statewide moratorium is the only effective way to protect Maryland's resources and residents from developments driven by "private gain" by "Big Tech" companies.