Maryland governor ready to sign data center moratorium — The Hill
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he would sign a bill imposing a statewide moratorium on the development of new data centers if it reaches his desk in 2027. He said this in an interview, The Hill reports.
Asked whether he would sign such a bill, Moore answered in the affirmative. He also noted that local authorities have the right to make decisions regarding data centers, but such facilities must meet strict requirements to obtain approval at the state level.
Earlier, Moore called on data center operators to provide their own energy resources and comply with environmental standards. According to Maryland Matters, the governor has largely left decisions on data centers to local authorities.
Temporary bans in counties
Temporary bans on data center development have already been introduced by 13 of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions. They include Baltimore, Worcester, Calvert, Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Montgomery and Prince George's counties border Washington.
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Residents of areas where such moratoriums were introduced have actively opposed data center development, citing its impact on housing and utility costs.
Debate over data center resources
In Congress, Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico blocked a Republican initiative that would have allowed states to consider requirements for technology companies to cover rising electricity costs caused by their operations. According to the senator, voluntary commitments or recommendations for states are insufficient, and Congress must pass legislation with effective mechanisms.
New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland also supported a moratorium. She emphasized data centers' environmental impact and called for requiring them to build their own renewable energy infrastructure so that electricity costs are not shifted onto state residents.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Water Development Board to impose sanctions on data centers that fail to meet the state's water-use requirements. US President Donald Trump stated that data centers should independently pay for their water and electricity consumption, while criticizing a statewide moratorium on the development of such facilities in New York.
