Maryland Governor Established New Data Center Oversight
A new executive order mandates state-level review for high-demand facilities as local moratoriums persist.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Should local communities have the final say on the placement of large industrial data centers?
Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order requiring state review for data centers with a peak demand of 25 megawatts or more. The directive bans state agencies from using nondisclosure agreements with developers while establishing a public tracking dashboard for project commitments.
Why it matters
The order seeks to balance massive infrastructure growth with local community oversight, addressing tensions between developers and residents. It follows a significant public sentiment shift, with 71% of Americans opposing AI data centers in their areas according to recent polling.
The new state mandate targets facilities exceeding a 25-megawatt peak demand threshold, requiring them to undergo a formal alignment rating. This process is distinct from the 18-month permit pause currently enforced by Montgomery County via Expedited Bill 19-26.
The players
Wes Moore
The Governor of Maryland who authorized the statewide data center review process.
Montgomery County Council
The local legislative body currently enforcing a moratorium on new data center permits.
Atmosphere Data Centers
A developer seeking to build a facility on the former coal plant site in Dickerson.
The details
The state's new Data Center Task Force will evaluate projects across five specific priorities, labeling each as aligned, conditionally aligned, or not aligned with state interests. In Montgomery County, Expedited Bill 19-26 enforces an 18-month moratorium on new permits, intended to provide residents time to evaluate proposed developments like the one Atmosphere Data Centers planned for the former Dickerson coal plant site.
Timeline
2026: Montgomery County Council passed Expedited Bill 19-26.
September 30, 2026: Governor Moore issued the executive order.
2027: Montgomery County expects to draft new zoning rules.
The Tech Race
The state's move represents a formalization of administrative gatekeeping for large-scale compute infrastructure. This follows a growing trend of local regulatory pauses, such as the one initiated by Expedited Bill 19-26, which precedes the state's anticipated zoning updates in 2027.
Residents in Montgomery County should anticipate further public discussions as the county works toward drafting new zoning rules in 2027. The state-level dashboard will provide the public with a new mechanism to monitor commitments made by developers regarding site usage and local impact.
The takeaway
The move signals a hardening of public and regulatory scrutiny toward massive power-consuming facilities. Residents should track the 2027 zoning rule drafts in Montgomery County for the next indicators of how these new state alignment ratings will be codified into permanent land use requirements.
Further reading
For additional context on regional compute infrastructure, visit the Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Montgomery Community Media.
Live Poll
Should local communities have the final say on the placement of large industrial data centers?
