메릴랜드 주지사는 신규 데이터센터 개발에 대한 전면 금지 대신 규제 기준을 채택했으며, 준수 요건을 충족하는 프로젝트의 진행을 허용했다.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) issued an executive order on Sept. 23 establishing a state task force that will compel data center developers to conduct transparent operations and minimize their projects' adverse impacts on local communities, ecosystems, and energy infrastructure.

Moore also promised to roll back state tax incentives for data centers but stopped short of pausing new development—a decision that disappointed Maryland environmental groups. His order comes as other states across the Chesapeake Bay watershed adopt stricter policies: New York has paused new data center development, while Virginia and Pennsylvania require developers to meet stringent requirements.

The move represents a shift from Moore's comments less than a week earlier, when he told Punchbowl News he would approve a statewide moratorium if presented with one. At the Sept. 23 press conference, Moore instead targeted the tax incentives passed by the General Assembly in 2020, which he argued had enabled the industry to dominate state regulations.

"Before I was elected governor, the data centers were calling the shots," Moore said. "The data centers and corporations were the ones writing the rules. And today, that ends."

Under the new policy, the state task force will review data center proposals with over 25 megawatts in peak energy demand and hold them to various standards. Facilities must either generate their own electricity or offset the costs of power from the public grid, and developers must prioritize hiring Maryland residents. The task force will also maintain a public dashboard showing each data center's parent company, energy demand, water use, and employment figures.

Developers who refuse to cooperate or meet state standards will be labeled "not aligned" and excluded from the coordinated state regulatory review process.

Several Maryland environmental organizations supported these provisions but expressed concern about the lack of detail on enforcement mechanisms and environmental protections. Jorge Aguilar, regional director for nonprofit Food & Water Watch, criticized Moore for rejecting the moratorium adopted by other states and failing to address diesel generator exemptions approved in 2024.

"Maryland can rise above and set a national precedent by passing a data center moratorium," Aguilar said. "Moore's announcement is a step in the right direction, but it's not the full leap to action Maryland needs. The framework Moore announced seems rushed and not fully vetted."