Maryland’s Data Center Pause SpreadsMaryland’s Data Center Pause SpreadsCoverage from WBFF, The Avenue News, and others
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Maryland counties are pausing or restricting new data center development, with Harford County adopting a countywide ban and other jurisdictions setting temporary moratoria.
Gov. Wes Moore has announced a state review and said he would sign a statewide pause or ban if lawmakers approve one. The measures reflect disputes over electricity capacity and costs, environmental effects, land use, and the local benefits expected from proposed facilities.
Harford County’s enacted countywide ban presents the clearest case for prohibiting data centers outright, including the county’s power-capacity rationale.
It captures the material shift in Maryland’s state-level approach from promoting data centers toward tighter review and possible statewide limits.
The Baltimore Banner
Key Issues
01
Local governments are restricting new development
Maryland jurisdictions are using moratoria, approval pauses, zoning limits, and bans to slow or block data-center development. Harford has enacted a countywide ban, while other jurisdictions maintain pauses or advance restrictions as they develop local rules.
Stable
Drawn from 4 articles
02
Grid capacity and public power costs constrain siting
Large facilities’ electricity demand and pressure on grid capacity remain central constraints, with laws and proposals seeking to shift infrastructure costs to data centers rather than ratepayers. Maryland’s new state review adds scrutiny for large projects seeking discretionary state action, alongside local calls for proof of adequate utility capacity.
Strengthening
Drawn from 3 articles
03
Approval is shifting toward conditional, impact-based siting
Where jurisdictions do not choose outright bans, proposals favor discretionary review and site-specific safeguards over by-right approval. Measures include industrial-area limits, residential setbacks, utility-capacity tests, and environmental mitigation requirements.
Stable
Drawn from 3 articles
04
Economic benefits remain contested by community opposition
Expected tax revenue and potential community investments are weighed against local opposition, environmental and land-use concerns, and demands for enforceable benefits. Public disputes and political pushback continue to shape whether projects proceed and under what conditions.
Mixed
Drawn from 3 articles
Key Numbers
25 megawatts
peak electricity demand threshold for task-force review
projects expecting to consume at least this amount at peak demand
“The task force, staffed by seven state agencies, will evaluate proposals against principles including protecting electricity ratepayers from added costs, providing sufficient environmental protections and securing community support. It will classify projects as “aligned, conditionally aligned, or not aligned” with those principles. The review applies to projects expecting to consume at least 25 megawatts of electricity at peak demand.”
Maryland Matters
25 megawatts or more
projected or actual peak electric demand threshold for large data center project review
generally; facilities qualifying as a Large Load Customer are also covered
“Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued an Executive Order on September 23 establishing a statewide review framework for large data center projects, generally those with projected or actual peak electric demand of 25 megawatts or more and facilities qualifying as a Large Load Customer under Maryland utility law.”
Venable LLP
25 megawatts
minimum projected or actual peak demand for review, including qualifying expansions
facilities or expansions adding at least this much power
“The review applies to facilities with a projected or actual peak demand of 25 megawatts or more, including expansions that add at least that much power.”
GovTech
24 jurisdictions
total Maryland jurisdictions
“Thirteen of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions have enacted some type of data center moratorium, while Harford County has imposed a full ban.”
The Daily Record
17 House of Delegates members
members supporting the 2020 data-center equipment tax-exemption bill, including Cox
Cox was one of the members · 2020
“However, Cox was one of 17 House of Delegates members who supported a 2020 bill providing a sales-and-use tax exemption for data center equipment.”
The Daily Record
Contested Issue
1 open dispute
Should Maryland localities prohibit data centers outright or allow them under stringent siting and permitting conditions?
The corpus documents materially different local policy approaches: Harford County enacted a countywide ban, while Baltimore County planning recommendations and a Harford County project applicant’s stated position favor allowing development under restrictions or regulated siting standards.
Conditional authorization
3 articles · across 3 publications
Allow data centers in designated locations subject to conditional approval, siting limits, and other safeguards.
Outright prohibition
3 articles · across 3 publications
Prohibit data-center development countywide rather than permit it through conditional siting and review.
Looking Back
148 Day Timeline
Articles published over time. Hover any bar for the period and its article count.
May 7
May 31
Jun 24
Jul 21
Aug 14
Sep 7
Oct 1
The Story So Far
Broadening
The governor backs a possible statewide pause or ban
Maryland’s response now extends beyond local restrictions and state-level project review: Gov. Wes Moore says he would sign a statewide pause or ban if lawmakers approve one, and plans to seek repeal of the data center tax exemption.
Previously
Maryland counties and Baltimore City are pausing, restricting, or reconsidering data center development through moratoria, zoning proposals, and bans. Local reviews focus on where facilities can be built, effects on electricity and water use, costs to communities, and opportunities for public input; Baltimore County is weighing whether to extend its pause while recommendations are completed. The varied local approaches could shape project approvals and siting across the state, but many proposals and recommendations have not reached final decisions.
History
10/01/2026
Maryland state government has added a statewide assessment of data centers’ environmental, energy, and economic effects, broadening the response beyond local reviews. Most county actions remain unresolved.
09/09/2026
The story is shifting from broad moratoriums and proposed bans toward more detailed, discretionary permitting frameworks, including industrial-zone limits, conditional approvals, and developer-funded mitigation. Prolonged reviews extending into 2027 are also increasing uncertainty over which projects can proceed.
Maryland counties and Baltimore City imposed pauses, moratoria or bans on new data centers in 2020s response to concerns about farmland, energy demand, water use and local impacts.
Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC advances a hyperscale data center in Imperial County, as supervisors impose a 45-day moratorium amid a lawsuit and proposed state regulatory changes.
Imperial County imposed a 45-day moratorium on hyperscale data centers after backlash over the Imperial Data Center, triggering CEQA, zoning, and water litigation in California.
Baltimore Planning Commission members considered Council Bill 26-0174 on Thursday in Baltimore, debating conditional data center zoning and environmental review requirements before the city's moratorium expires next year.
Maryland counties, including Harford, Montgomery, and Frederick, have banned or paused data center approvals in 2025 amid disputes over power capacity, environmental impacts, and local land use.
On July 22, county committees advanced an 18-month data center moratorium and a zoning amendment banning data centers over 25 MW for a July 28 County Council vote.
Baltimore County, Maryland, will consider extending a data center moratorium and adopting stricter zoning and environmental oversight after a Planning Board hearing and vote in September.
Baltimore County staff presented a hyperscale data center impact report to the Planning Board on Thursday, with proposals affecting siting, noise, water use, and community contracting during a pause until 2027.
Prince George's County, Maryland adopted a two-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development after debate over siting, water supply impacts, and utility pressure.
Prince George's County Council approved a two-year moratorium on new data center development in Maryland after a public hearing, while the county executive halted permitting through September.
Prince George's County, Frederick County, and Montgomery County in Maryland paused data center development or permitting while environmental impact analyses proceed.
Baltimore City Council passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction of 10 MW or more, with a nine-month impact study, for mayoral approval.
Maryland county governments are pausing or banning new data center approvals in recent months as residents and officials debate infrastructure, environmental, and land use impacts.
Prince George's County, Maryland, enacted a two-year moratorium on data center development while addressing environmental impacts and potential enforceable community benefits agreements.
7/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Frederick and Calvert County primary election results in Maryland, driven by opposition to data center zoning and proposed pauses, increased momentum for moratoriums and tighter controls.
7/13/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Maryland lawmakers and local officials discussed data center moratoriums, electricity costs, and grid interconnection rules Wednesday at a conference in Ocean City, Maryland.
Montgomery County, Maryland, plans council committee reviews of data center moratorium bills and zoning text changes on July 22, with full Council action scheduled for July 28.
Imperial County supervisors debated stronger building guidelines for data center proposals on Tuesday as residents urged a CEQA-based moratorium and multiple cities considered pauses.
6/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Venable LLP / Kedrick Whitmore, Matthew J. Allman, Noah B. Klein, Zachary G. Williams60
Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order on September 23 establishing a statewide accountability review for large data center projects in Maryland.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore established a state task force under an executive order to assess large data center proposals across Maryland, while local governments retain final approval authority.
CCAN Action Fund reports nine Maryland counties and Baltimore City enacted data center moratoria starting late 2025, citing electricity, water, and community impacts.
7/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Baltimore City Council held hearings this week in Baltimore on data center rules, considering health reviews and capacity limits during a one-year construction moratorium.
Prince George's County Council in Maryland approved a two-year hyperscale data center development moratorium after public testimony on water, environmental effects, and utility strain.
Prince George's County Council passed a two-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers in Maryland to reassess water, health, and utility impacts while crafting future legislation.
Prince George's County Chair Oriadha announced a proposed two-year moratorium on new data center operations in Prince George's County, Maryland, to complete reviews of land use, power, water, and environmental impacts.
Harford County, Maryland officials considered emergency legislation in 2026 to permanently ban data centers, citing energy, infrastructure, noise, and water concerns.
Evan Glass and Will Jawando, seeking Montgomery County, Maryland county executive, proposed moratoriums on new data center permits amid concerns over water, air pollution, and energy costs.
Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly submitted legislation to permanently ban data centers in Harford County, Maryland, after county moratorium discussions and resident concerns.
Baltimore City Council advanced a one-year data center moratorium on pending full-council vote, targeting standards after committee discussion set a 10-megawatt threshold.
Baltimore City Council debates a moratorium on new data centers above 10 megawatts as Maryland funds Johns Hopkins for a $192 million Bayview ARCH expansion.
Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly announced proposed legislation to permanently prohibit data centers in Harford County, Maryland, citing energy, environmental, and water concerns.
Baltimore County officials are holding public hearings this week on extending the data center moratorium and regulating future facilities in Baltimore County, Maryland.
Baltimore County residents testified at the Planning Board in Towson on new data center siting rules tied to a proposed 150-megawatt Woodlawn project, ahead of an Oct. 1 County Council recommendation.
5/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Wes Moore and Dan Cox are presenting competing positions on data center development as Maryland jurisdictions impose moratoriums and state officials address grid costs before the November gubernatorial election.
Baltimore County residents and officials urged the Planning Board in Maryland to restrict data centers during a hearing on proposed regulations before a September 21 moratorium vote.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced a new data center review process last week in Maryland amid county moratoriums and growing environmental and community concerns.
Maryland communities and local governments debated expanding data-center development in July 2026 as projects increased pressure on land, electricity, water, and permitting systems.
8/25/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
Maryland lawmakers, local governments and residents are scrutinizing data center expansion in 2025 as Quantum Frederick and other projects raise electricity, water and land-use concerns statewide.
8/28/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Maryland energy officials recently urged counties with temporary data center moratoriums to negotiate community investments as PJM Interconnection warned of transmission constraints and potential grid disruptions statewide.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore established a statewide review framework through an executive order for large data center projects seeking state action or support in Maryland.
In 2025, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore moderated support for data centers as Frederick County and communities near Adamstown raised concerns about electricity, water, land use, and infrastructure costs.
Maryland Board of Public Works approved a $9 million grant for Johns Hopkins to build a 25,000-square-foot data science and computer center in East Baltimore while Baltimore City Council weighs a 10-megawatt moratorium threshold.
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