Residents tell Baltimore County to reject large data centers
Baltimore County residents expressed strong opposition to large data centers at a Planning Board hearing, citing concerns about power and water consumption, pollution, and noise. The county is considering new regulations, including prohibiting data centers near neighborhoods and farms and requiring full development process steps. The County Council is also expected to vote on extending a data center moratorium through 2027.
Baltimore County, Maryland, is currently grappling with significant public opposition to large data center developments. An overflow crowd attended a Baltimore County Planning Board hearing, urging officials to reject such projects due to concerns over high electricity and water consumption, potential pollution, and noise impacts on communities. Nicole Stine, representing the anti-data center group Our Land Our Home with Baltimore County, specifically voiced fears about a data center being located in Dundalk and its harmful effects.
Maryland Delegate Sheila Ruth (D) for Woodlawn advocated for capping data center sizes to mitigate impacts on the power grid, water systems, pollution, and noise. The Planning Board is reviewing a study commissioned by the County Council that proposes regulations like prohibiting data centers near residential areas and farms, requiring all developments to undergo a full approval process rather than being 'by right,' and potentially implementing tariffs for excessive water usage. These facilities would also be subjected to noise and vibration studies.
Amidst this debate, Baltimore County’s Deputy Director of Government Affairs Brad Kroner emphasized the necessity of data centers for everyday services beyond just AI, including streaming and e-commerce. The county council is anticipated to vote on September 21 to extend an existing data center moratorium through 2027, a measure supported by five of the seven council members and County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, even before the Planning Board's full regulatory study is due.