General Assembly candidates of both parties have a common enemy: data centers
Maryland political candidates from both parties are blaming data centers for rising residential energy costs and advocating for increased regulations. Governor Wes Moore signed the Utility RELIEF Act, which includes provisions for stricter data center regulations and aims to lower energy bills. Some candidates are also calling for a two-year moratorium on data center construction in the state.
Maryland primary election candidates for the House of Delegates and state Senate across both Democratic and Republican parties have identified data centers as a common enemy, citing their significant energy consumption as the leading factor behind rising residential energy rates. A survey conducted by the University of Maryland's Local News Network for the Capital News Service General Assembly primary voter guide revealed bipartisan support for increased regulations on data center development. Yonelle Moore Lee, a Democratic House candidate from Charles County, and Dianna Palmer, a Republican House candidate from Washington County, both highlighted the "outrageous and unsustainable" increase in energy rates, which have jumped 44% in Maryland since 2020.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore addressed these concerns by signing the Utility RELIEF Act in May, legislation designed to modernize the state's energy grid, impose stricter regulations on data centers, and lower energy bills for residents by at least $150 annually. State Senator Sara Love, a Democrat from Montgomery County, noted that the bill "puts guardrails on data centers" by requiring owners to cover the costs of necessary energy infrastructure upgrades. Despite these measures, some candidates, like Democrat John D. Leonard from Washington and Frederick counties, advocate for more drastic actions, calling for Maryland to enact a two-year moratorium on data center construction, similar to one recently implemented in Maine.
Opposition to data centers also stems from concerns about job creation and land use. Eric Immler, a Democratic House candidate from Southern Maryland, claimed data centers generate "virtually no new jobs" locally and "siphon wealth" from the state. Republican Delegate April Rose, representing Carroll and Frederick counties, emphasized the need for Maryland to generate more in-state energy through natural gas and nuclear power, asserting that renewable sources alone are insufficient and that data center development should be curtailed to protect farmland and conserved areas. PJM Interconnection, which manages the wholesale electricity market for Maryland and 12 other states, has identified data centers as the "primary reason" for increased prices and grid load, both currently and in future projections.