Baltimore County Planning Board weighs data center report
The Baltimore County Planning Board is reviewing a comprehensive report on data centers, prompted by the County Council. Residents voiced strong opposition due to concerns about noise, electricity, water usage, and property values, while others highlighted potential tax revenue benefits. The board is expected to vote on the report on September 17 before sending it to the County Council for a final decision.
The Baltimore County Planning Board held a public hearing to discuss its comprehensive Data Center Study Report, initiated by the Baltimore County Council in February 2026. The report, which includes data on electric and water usage, economic impact, and tax revenue, is designed to inform future decisions on data center development in the county.
Deputy Director of Government Affairs for Baltimore County, Brad Kroner, presented findings revealing that an average data center consumes about 18,000 gallons of water per day, significantly more than a single-family home. Residents offered mixed opinions during the hearing; Donna Gray of Woodlawn strongly opposed a proposed data center in her community, citing concerns about noise, increased electricity demand, air quality, potential health issues, water demand, and diminished property values, advocating for a county-wide ban.
Conversely, a union worker highlighted the potential benefits, emphasizing the tax revenue data centers could generate to fund essential services like police, firefighters, teachers, and infrastructure improvements. The report includes recommendations from the planning board, which is scheduled to vote on the document on September 17 before forwarding it to the County Council for final consideration. The county currently hosts two small data centers in White Marsh and Owings Mills for telephone service connectivity.