Maryland Leaders Discuss Data Center Energy Impact at MACo Conference
Maryland leaders are examining how the rapid growth of AI and data centers is impacting the state's energy demand, infrastructure, and local economies. A discussion at the MACo Summer Conference highlighted concerns about rising electric demand, energy prices, grid capacity, and land use. Counties are urged to pay continued attention to these intersecting pressures.
Maryland leaders are grappling with the profound impact of artificial intelligence and data center proliferation on the state's energy infrastructure and economic landscape. At the 2026 MACo Summer Conference, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo led a critical discussion on the trade-offs associated with this rapid growth. The session focused on how surging electricity demand could influence energy costs, grid reliability, infrastructure placement, land use decisions, local budgets, and long-term economic development strategies across Maryland.
Jason Stanek, Executive Executive of Governmental Services at PJM Interconnection, provided a regional perspective on the power grid, emphasizing the intersection of escalating data center demand with overall power supply, system reliability, infrastructure needs, and future planning. This collaborative discussion underscored the necessity for Maryland's counties to remain vigilant in addressing the complex interplay of energy, infrastructure, affordability, and development pressures stemming from the expanding data center sector.