Maryland won't have data center study by Sept. 1. Why a lawmaker remains hopeful

Maryland's anticipated statewide study on data center development, initially slated for a September 1st release, has been delayed, prompting legislators and advocates to await crucial details. State Senator Karen Lewis Young, a Frederick County Democrat and the bill's sponsor, highlighted the study's purpose: to provide an independent, objective assessment of data centers' economic, environmental, and energy consequences. This analysis aims to offer a more balanced perspective than previous industry-led reports, particularly as individual Maryland counties grapple with setting their own regulatory frameworks for these facilities.

The delay stems from Governor Wes Moore's initial veto of the legislation in 2025, citing cost and labor intensity amid state budget uncertainties, though lawmakers later overrode this decision. Senator Young emphasized the need to quantify job opportunities, noting that many are short-term during construction, and to comprehensively examine impacts like water usage and air quality that extend beyond county lines. Governor Moore has separately asserted that data center developers, not taxpayers, should bear the full cost of infrastructure improvements and adhere to strict environmental standards, including avoiding pollution and prioritizing local hires.

Meanwhile, the Maryland Tech Council, represented by CEO Kelly Schulz, advocates for the study to serve as a framework for establishing clear standards, rather than an impediment to investment. Schulz suggested that county-level moratoriums, such as the one enacted in Frederick County, should be used productively to learn from other jurisdictions. In Frederick County, new data center development has been paused until year-end, though existing projects are still underway, with local regulations in place regarding noise, vibration, and water use.

Local stakeholders, like farmer Steve Black in Frederick County, express concern that decisions with permanent consequences are being made even as the study's findings are pending. Senator Young, despite the delay, is actively preparing new legislation with a grassroots work group, aiming to use the study as a factual foundation to address ongoing questions about water, energy, health, and funding for Maryland's AI infrastructure expansion.