What was said about data centers in Maryland
69 statements from 30 speakers, grouped by who spoke. Each appears as said, with the date and the source. No verdict is attached.
From January 1, 2025 to October 1, 2026. Statements from every state are on Statements.
Government 53
Officials in office, lawmakers, regulators, public agencies and courts, federal, state, tribal and local. Every state.
-
Maryland Governor
Moore called on state lawmakers to repeal a law passed in 2020 which gave data centers certain tax exemptions.
-
Maryland Governor
Moore said he would approve statewide data center moratorium if presented with one, less than a week before the executive order signing
-
Baltimore County Planning Board
Draft report recommends data centers prohibited on agricultural land zoned for resource conservation
-
Baltimore County Planning Board
Draft report recommends establishing overall cap on total electrical or water usage by data centers in the county
-
Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
The state plans to create a public dashboard for transparency that will display proposed data center projects, including water and electricity consumption.
-
Maryland Governor
Governor Wes Moore said he would sign a data center moratorium if state lawmakers passed one, though the executive order stops short of a moratorium
-
Sheila Ruth, Maryland Delegate, told the planning board the county should consider capping data center size because larger centers have greater impact on power grid, water systems, pollution and noise
-
Maryland Governor
Governor Moore will ask the General Assembly next session to repeal Maryland's data center sales and use tax exemption enacted in 2020.
-
Governor, Maryland
Governor Wes Moore quoted on executive order and data center regulation.
-
Todd Crandell, Baltimore County Councilman Republican, said the moratorium is appropriate because the industry has not answered questions about environmental impact and energy costs
-
Governor of Maryland
Gov. Moore plans to advocate for repeal of the state tax exemption for data centers, established in 2020, during the next legislative session beginning in January.
-
Governor of Maryland
Gov. Moore said he would work with state lawmakers in the coming legislative session to repeal the existing state tax exemption for data centers, established in 2020.
-
Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
Data centers must hire locally, pay well, and enter partnerships with labor unions according to the executive order.
-
Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
Maryland Data Center Task Force will include members from Maryland Energy Administration, Departments of Commerce, Labor, Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Planning
-
Maryland Governor
Governor Moore has not called for a statewide moratorium on data centers but said he would sign legislation if General Assembly sent him a moratorium bill.
-
Governor of Maryland
Gov. Moore indicated in a recent interview with Punchbowl News that if a statewide moratorium bill landed on his desk next year, he would sign it.
-
Izzy Patoka, Baltimore County Councilman Democrat, said he has heard from no one he represents who wants the moratorium lifted
-
Baltimore County Planning Board
Draft report recommends data centers subject to noise and vibration studies before and after construction with post construction audits at regular intervals
-
Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
The executive order does not impose a statewide moratorium on building data centers.
-
Baltimore County Planning Board
Draft report recommends data centers prohibited within 750 feet of residential uses
-
Baltimore County Planning Board
Draft report recommends data centers prohibited within 500 feet of day care centers, parks, recreation facilities and schools
-
Baltimore County Planning Board
Draft report recommends data centers prohibited outside Urban Rural Demarcation Line
-
David Marks, Baltimore County Councilman, stated that the public needs more opportunity to comment on data centers, describing it as a complex issue involving land use, taxation, and water use.
-
Maryland Governor
Moore called on data center operators to provide their own energy resources and comply with environmental standards
-
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he would sign a bill imposing a statewide moratorium on data center development if it reaches his desk in 2027
-
Maryland Governor
Gov. Wes Moore said he would sign a statewide data center moratorium as the state faces local pressure to restrict artificial intelligence buildout
-
Delegate (District 4)
Delegate April Fleming Miller's District 4 team sent a letter to the County Executive requesting an extension to the DRRA comment period for a data center agreement.
-
Louisa Conklin, Frederick County Council member, stated data center developers have legal avenues to protect themselves from council oversight and that water protection is a community priority.
-
Montgomery County Councilmember
Glass cited county residents' concerns about potential environmental impacts of data centers
-
Office of People's Counsel
None of the seven Maryland data center projects included in the relevant forecast have a formal agreement with a utility
-
Governor of Maryland
Governor Moore stated data centers must bear own energy costs and infrastructure improvements
-
State Senator Karen Lewis Young introduced study legislation to analyze data center economic, environmental and energy consequences
-
Maryland Governor
Gov. Wes Moore said data center developers should provide their own energy, finance infrastructure improvements, use local union labor, comply with environmental regulations, and local jurisdictions should retain ability to reject projects.
-
Maryland State Senator, Baltimore County
Sen. Johnny Ray Salling stated data center operators should be responsible for costs directly associated with serving their facilities
-
Maryland Governor
Moore said Virginia has the largest concentration of data centers in the world and Maryland should not replicate Virginia's approach.
-
Maryland State Senator, Baltimore County
Sen. Johnny Ray Salling stated Maryland residents should not bear additional costs on utility bills from data center energy demands
-
Maryland State Senator, Baltimore County
Sen. Johnny Ray Salling stated data centers should not be located in areas where noise, traffic, construction or other impacts would diminish residents' quality of life
-
Maryland State Senator, Baltimore County
Sen. Johnny Ray Salling opposed fast tracking or providing blanket approval for data center projects
-
Maryland Governor
Gov. Wes Moore said when asked about supporting a ban: 'I'll work with the legislature to see exactly where we go with this. But I've been very clear about where my guidelines are.'
-
Montgomery County Council member
Councilmember Will Jawando said data centers previously received tax incentives but now the county wants to ensure adequate public benefit and energy protection
-
Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani Gonzalez stated the compromise went from six months to two years, settling on 18 months
-
Montgomery County Council member
Councilmember Evan Glass said there are concerns about water impacts to the Potomac River, utility bill rate payers, and community effects
-
Dean Rose, President of Frederick County School Board
School board recommended long term air quality monitoring, ongoing environmental noise studies and evaluating cumulative emissions from the campus
-
Dean Rose, President of Frederick County School Board, and community members
Community listening session at Carroll Manor Elementary on July 13 was attended by school board and about 100 members of the public who raised concerns about excessive noise and diesel generator pollution
-
President of Frederick County School Board, and Rae Gallagher, Vice President
Frederick County school board President Dean Rose and Vice President Rae Gallagher called for permanent buffer around Carroll Manor Elementary School in letter to county and state officials
-
Montgomery County Council member
Councilmember Will Jawando said he introduced a moratorium bill covering the Dickerson project and thanked the Executive for taking action
-
Montgomery County Executive
County Executive Elrich stated he is pausing permit processing to create time for the county to establish clear rules before applications move through permitting
-
Montgomery County Council Vice President
Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe said the moratorium is intended to protect residents from grid strain, brownouts, and environmental impacts while welcoming responsible innovation
-
Governor of Maryland
Gov. Wes Moore vetoed original study bill in 2025 citing cost and labor concerns
Candidates and campaigns 5
People running for office, their campaigns and their parties. A candidate who does not hold the office is not an official. Every state.
-
Dan Cox, Republican Gubernatorial Nominee
Cox focused criticism on TeraWulf's proposed data center development at the retired Morgantown coal fired power plant site in Charles County.
-
Dan Cox, Republican gubernatorial nominee, called for an immediate statewide moratorium on hyperscale data centers to evaluate their effects.
-
Maryland Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate
Ellis called for a data center ban and recision of any tax breaks already distributed to data centers.
-
Republican Gubernatorial Nominee
Dan Cox said in a July appearance on WBAL NewsRadio that he would issue a moratorium if elected, citing concerns about rural lands being developed for power lines to serve data centers.
-
Maryland Green Party Gubernatorial Candidate
Andy Ellis, Maryland Green Party candidate for governor, announced he was bringing on Taylor Frazier McCollum, a Prince George's County anti data center activist, as campaign organizer focused on data center issue.
Advocates and residents 5
Advocacy and community groups on every side, residents, neighbors and people speaking at public meetings. Every state.
-
Food & Water Watch regional director
Jorge Aguilar, regional director for Food & Water Watch, criticized Moore for not adopting data center moratorium other states have
-
Maryland environmental advocacy groups
More than 60 Maryland advocacy groups urging state leaders to pause new data center proposals until impacts can be evaluated
-
Residents cite water use, pollution and rising energy costs as reasons to slow down data center development
-
Frederick County residents
Residents concerned about contaminated dirt at Eastalco brownfield site, diesel generator pollution, noise, light, stormwater, water consumption, and impact on rural character
-
Montgomery County Climate Change Officer
County Climate Change Officer Sarah Kogel Smucker said data centers consume large amounts of energy and water and the goal is to shape development aligned with climate goals
Researchers and analysts 1
Universities, research institutes, think tanks, pollsters, economists and consultants. Every state.
-
Political analyst John Dedie said shifting positions on data centers reek of 2028 politics and that candidates are responding to strong voter pushback against data center development and artificial intelligence.
Other voices 5
Journalists, lawyers, former officials, and speakers the source describes in words that name none of the groups above. Every state.
-
Erek Barron, Mintz
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's upcoming people's counsel appointment may shape state debates over electric rate increases and grid investment related to data centers
-
Maryland Freedom Caucus criticized the order for not including a moratorium on data center construction.
-
Baltimore Sun
Maryland communities are weighing the promise of jobs and tax revenue against concerns about electricity demand, land use, noise and other impacts
-
AI and energy executives warn Maryland risks losing jobs, tax revenue and processing power as counties block data centers
-
Baltimore Sun Editorial Board advocates for intelligent regulation of data centers rather than bans
The group comes from the words the source gives for the speaker; how the groups are read. Every statement on the record is in CSV and JSON, with its group and its state.
