What to know about data centers in Maryland
Data center proposals are increasing in Maryland, leading to community debates over economic benefits versus concerns about utility strain, water usage, and quality of life. Several counties have enacted moratoriums or outright bans, while others are approving projects and legislative changes regarding backup generators have occurred. The article highlights impacts on electricity bills and water resources.
The state of Maryland is experiencing a surge in data center proposals, prompting widespread community debate over economic benefits versus environmental and infrastructural costs. Governor Wes Moore is actively promoting data center development to diversify the state's economy. While over 30 data centers currently operate in Maryland, local governments are increasingly enacting moratoriums or outright bans, with Harford County being the first to ban them entirely. Prince George
’s and Montgomery county councils have also approved data center pauses.
Specific projects facing scrutiny include one in Baltimore County, which is on hold due to a moratorium, and an Amazon data center campus in Calvert County that was recently scrapped. Frederick County, however, is becoming a hub for hyperscale data centers, with three completed and four under construction, including the Quantum Frederick development, which is projected to generate significant tax revenue.
The article highlights major concerns, including the strain on the regional power grid operated by PJM Interconnection, leading to an estimated $4.3 billion in electrical-load growth-related costs for Maryland ratepayers. Data centers also consume vast amounts of water for cooling, with a single facility in Northern Virginia using as much daily water as nearly 200 homes. Environmental impacts extend to noise pollution and air emissions from backup diesel generators. Notably, Aligned Data Centers' 3.3 million square-foot project in Frederick County faced initial rejection for its generator plan but is now moving forward after state legislators expanded laws to include data centers for emergency power use. Bitcoin mining company TeraWulf also secured approval to purchase a coal-fired power plant in Charles County for its data center complex.