Governor Moore Signs Order Establishing Data Center Review Process

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order establishing a statewide review process for large data center projects. The order applies to projects of 25 megawatts or more and creates a state task force to review proposals and maintain a public dashboard with information about projects, including projected power demand and water use. Governor Moore also announced plans to work with the General Assembly to repeal Maryland’s data center sales and use tax exemption, enacted in 2020.

Governor Moore at a news conference today spoke about the five principles that each project is judged on…

The rest of the principles include economic benefits for Marylanders, community voice, environmental protections, as well as transparency and accountability.

Additional Information from the Office of Governor Wes Moore:

Governor Moore today signed an executive order codifying a framework that outlines strict guardrails for transparent and accountable data center development in Maryland. The new order establishes a Maryland Data Center Task Force to ensure ratepayers and the environment are protected, communities are empowered, and transparency and accountability are enforced. 

Additionally, the Governor announced his support and commitment to work directly with the General Assembly in the upcoming legislative session to repeal the Data Center Sales and Use Tax Exemption, originally enacted in 2020. 

“While federal inaction and Donald Trump’s aggressive rollback of safety regulations have granted Big Tech free reign to write their own rules – raising electricity bills and polluting our air and water – our administration is taking action to put control in the hands of Marylanders,” said Gov. Moore. “By signing this executive order, we are establishing clear safeguards to ensure Marylanders do not foot the bill, our people benefit, community voices are heard, and our environment is protected — all while centering transparency and accountability throughout the process.” 

The executive order creates one standard, one review process, and one public record for every large data center proposed in Maryland that covers 25 megawatts or more as soon as it seeks any State action – including a permit, incentive, or letter of support. Each project is judged on five principles: ratepayer and grid protection, economic benefits for Marylanders, community voice, environmental protections, and transparency and accountability. 

The executive order also establishes the Maryland Data Center Task Force, housed in the Governor’s Office. The task force is responsible for reviewing every project, publishing the rules in advance, maintaining the public Data Center Dashboard, and supporting local governments. It will coordinate with neighboring states and recommend further actions to the Governor to strengthen these protections and enhance enforcement.

The task force will include members from the Maryland Energy Administration, as well as Departments of Commerce, Labor, Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Planning.  Projects will receive a written, public determination from the task force: Aligned, Conditionally Aligned, or Not Aligned. 

To center transparency and accountability, the order also establishes a Data Center Dashboard, a public website – updated monthly – that serves as the State’s record of data center development. For every project under review, the dashboard will show the location and legislative districts, the developer, its parent company and any disclosed anchor tenant, and projected power demand and water use. The dashboard will also show additional information –  such as every State action the project has requested and its status, the Determination and the reasons for it, the signed commitments, and the annual reports.