Gov. Wes Moore is establishing an interagency task force to review all proposed data center projects in Maryland.
Staffed by representatives from seven state agencies, the group will display its findings on a public dashboard tracking all development across the state. It also lays out a ban on state executive departments entering into nondisclosure agreements with developers, meaning more information about the terms of these deals will be publicly available.
Local agencies still have the final say — and those economic development orgs can still sign NDAs — but the latest executive order comes during a flurry of tech movement at the state level. It was announced on Wednesday, just a day after Moore unveiled an AI framework for his administration, including regulations for frontier developers and investments in workforce upskilling.
Over half of Maryland jurisdictions have already imposed moratoriums on new data center projects, many of which aim to conduct new impact studies before development proceeds.
The statewide task force will add to that with more information about energy consumption, economic impact, environmental protections, developer transparency and community engagement. That won’t override local control, but it will rate projects on how closely they adhere to the order’s outlined principles and offer guidance to local authorities.
The task force will apply to data centers over 25 megawatts, falling far below standard metrics for hyperscale facilities. However, the Maryland Public Service Commission, which regulates public utilities, uses that threshold to define a large load customer. The order does not cover data centers operated by a university, hospital or state agency.
Moore’s order resembles the data center accountability framework issued last week by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. However, it is less aggressive than New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s year-long statewide moratorium or Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s move to pause all new permit reviews.
Just last year, Moore touted data center development as a way to grow Maryland’s economy and reducing its reliance on federal jobs. That stance has since evolved. Moore recently told Punchbowl News that he would sign a statewide moratorium if the legislature approves one. He also plans to push state lawmakers to repeal the data center sales tax exemption passed in 2020.
“I want Maryland to lead on innovation in this era. I want businesses to invest here,” Moore said while announcing the order. “But our families come first and our children come first. Not a developer’s timeline and not a corporation’s bottom line.”
