Baltimore City data center bill faces activist backlash
A Baltimore City Council bill, introduced by Councilwoman Felicia Porter, proposes to deem data centers as conditional use, requiring a health equity assessment for proposed sites. The bill faces strong backlash from activists like Hillary Gonzales, who criticize the assessment's independence and limited scope, advocating instead for an outright ban on data centers. The legislation is currently open for public comment with the Planning Commission and City Council Committee.
A bill introduced by Baltimore City Councilwoman Felicia Porter in April aims to establish a pathway for data center development within the city. The proposed legislation would classify data centers as a conditional use and mandate developers to submit a health equity assessment, detailing potential health impacts within a mile and a half radius of a proposed site.
Local activist Hillary Gonzales has voiced significant concerns in a widely viewed video, criticizing the health assessment's lack of independent oversight and questioning the limited impact radius for environmental factors like air, water, and sound. While Porter asserts the bill is intended to empower Baltimoreans with a say in their communities and foster economic growth, Gonzales advocates for a complete ban on data centers in the city.
City Council President Zeke Cohen, also a bill sponsor, previously supported a year-long moratorium on data center development that took effect in May, emphasizing the need for clarity on how the city can unequivocally benefit from such technology. The current bill identifies specific eligible zoning areas in neighborhoods like Curtis Bay, Highlandtown, Brewers Hill, Canton, and near the Woodberry light rail station. It is currently slated for public comment sessions with the Planning Commission next week and a City Council Committee in September.