Mapping the data center rush: A county-by-county breakdown

Data centers, large facilities housing computers that power digital lives, offer significant economic benefits through job creation and tax generation, yet they pose substantial environmental concerns. They demand immense amounts of electricity, straining power grids and potentially increasing rates, and require millions of gallons of water for cooling, impacting local resources. Additionally, reliance on fossil fuel generators for backup can lead to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In Maryland, while no statewide regulations specifically govern data centers, the Maryland Utility RELIEF Act mandates that "large load" users, including data centers, cover their own energy upgrade costs to prevent these expenses from being passed to consumers. This leaves local jurisdictions responsible for managing data center development. Harford County, a specific example highlighted in the report, is currently considered "open for business, with regulations." However, its top executive has proposed a ban on data centers, indicating a sharp division among local leaders on balancing economic development with environmental stewardship.