Council President Zeke Cohen wants to ban data centers in Baltimore — temporarily

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen plans to introduce legislation imposing a one-year moratorium on data center development within the city. The proposed ban would target facilities consuming 10 megawatts or more, providing state lawmakers and regulators an opportunity to thoroughly assess the financial and environmental implications of these energy-intensive facilities. Cohen expressed concerns about sacrificing neighbors to data centers without a better understanding of their impacts, especially as surging energy bills have made data centers a political flash point. This move follows similar actions in other Maryland jurisdictions; Baltimore County Council unanimously voted for a temporary ban in February, and Prince George’s County issued a pause last year. In Baltimore, a primary site for potential data center interest is the vacant land at the Baltimore Peninsula mega-development, which had previously attracted data center inquiries from former developer MaryAnne Gilmartin of MAG Partners. Recent concerns about a data center at this location have fueled criticism of Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) over escalating utility bills. Local small-business owner Bobby LaPin, a candidate challenging Senate President Bill Ferguson, amplified these concerns through a viral social media video. Ferguson, whose district includes Baltimore Peninsula, has also pushed for state legislation that would effectively prevent data center development in areas covered by tax increment financing districts, like the Peninsula site. He and other officials have also pressured BGE to pause a controversial $500 million transmission project in South Baltimore, which would increase utility bills. Cohen emphasized that data centers, as large-load customers, should bear their own electrical infrastructure costs rather than burdening ratepayers.