Moore says he would ‘absolutely sign’ statewide data center moratorium

Maryland Governor Signals Support for Statewide Data Center Pause

Provpnadvice.com – Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Thursday that he would sign legislation creating a statewide moratorium on new data center development if such a measure reaches his desk in 2027. His position places him among a growing group of officials confronting the rapid expansion of facilities that support cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Moore was asked directly whether he would approve a statewide freeze. He answered without hesitation, while also stressing that counties and other local governments should retain an important role in deciding how development proceeds within their boundaries.

“Yes,” Moore said. “And here’s the thing, it’s like –– I believe that local jurisdictions should have say and they should not be told nor dictated, and I do understand there are certain local jurisdictions who want it. I just need them to understand I have very strict guidelines of what’s going to actually get state approval and state authority.”

The governor later made his stance even clearer, saying that if a moratorium bill comes before him, he would “absolutely sign it.”

Local governments have already acted

The debate is not merely theoretical in Maryland. Thirteen of the state’s 24 jurisdictions have adopted temporary restrictions on data center construction. Baltimore, Worcester, Calvert, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are among the places that have taken that step. Montgomery and Prince George’s, both near Washington, D.C., sit in an area where demand for digital infrastructure has become especially significant.

Moratoriums generally give local officials time to study zoning, utility capacity, environmental requirements and potential community impacts before additional large projects move ahead. For residents, the issue often comes down to whether the promised economic activity outweighs concerns about pressure on housing, electricity and water systems.

People in counties that have adopted temporary bans have voiced opposition to further data center growth, particularly over possible effects on utility bills and housing costs. The facilities can require substantial electricity and water, making planning decisions about them more visible to communities than many other types of commercial development.

Moore has previously emphasized that Maryland data centers should supply their own energy resources and comply with environmental rules. His approach has largely left immediate development choices to local leaders, while reserving state authority over approvals and standards that fall under Maryland’s broader regulatory system.

Energy and environmental questions are shaping the national debate

The Maryland discussion arrives as policymakers across the country wrestle with how to accommodate an industry tied to expanding digital services while protecting residents from higher infrastructure costs. Data centers are central to online storage, digital communications, artificial intelligence tools and other computing services, but their growth has intensified scrutiny of their power and water needs.

At the federal level, Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, blocked a Republican-backed proposal Thursday that would have required states to consider making technology companies pay the added electricity costs connected to their operations. Heinrich argued that a voluntary or advisory approach would not sufficiently address the problem.

“Rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth,” Heinrich said.

The dispute reflects a larger policy question: who should bear the cost when new high-demand facilities require additional generating capacity, transmission upgrades or other utility investments? Consumer advocates and some elected officials have pressed for companies developing the projects to shoulder more of those expenses. Technology companies and communities seeking investment, meanwhile, point to the jobs, tax revenue and digital capacity that data centers can bring.

New Mexico and Texas take different approaches

New Mexico’s governor’s race has also brought the issue into focus. Democratic candidate Deb Haaland announced Thursday that she supports a moratorium on new data centers. She highlighted environmental protection and called for projects to build their own renewable-energy infrastructure so that New Mexico residents are not left facing sharply rising energy costs.

New Mexico has 21 operating data centers. One additional facility is under construction, five are planned, one is paused and one is inactive. Those figures illustrate why the debate has become a meaningful statewide issue even as officials consider future development rules.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has taken a different route by focusing on enforcement rather than a statewide halt. On Monday, he directed the Texas Water Development Board to penalize data centers that do not comply with state water-use requirements. Facilities that violate those obligations could face criminal consequences and lose eligibility for permits or renewals from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The Texas action underscores that water use has become a major part of the data center policy conversation. In regions facing strain on water supplies or rising demand, regulators are increasingly examining whether large facilities have adequate conservation plans and whether existing rules are being followed.

A bipartisan issue with sharp differences over policy

President Trump has said data centers should cover their own water and electricity consumption, a position that has gained support across party lines. Yet he criticized New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, after she imposed a statewide freeze on data center development in July.

“Data Centers are tremendous WINS for the States and Communities that are lucky enough to get them. New York should change its Policy, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The Radical Left Dumocrats must not be allowed to cause us to lose Data Centers, AI, and all of this incredible new Technology, to China, and other countries!”

For Maryland, Moore’s statement means the question of a statewide pause could become more consequential during the next legislative cycle. He faces reelection in November against former Del. Dan Cox, a Republican. Whatever happens in that contest, the underlying challenge will remain: determining how to welcome technological investment while ensuring that local communities, utility customers and environmental safeguards are not overlooked.