Pins matching tag:MD

The Maryland General Assembly overrode Governor Moore's veto (Senate 44-0, House 111-24), enacting a law requiring a comprehensive environmental and economic analysis of data center expansion. The report is due September 2026 and must examine the cumulative impact of data center growth on electricity generation needs, grid capacity, water resource demands, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Maryland HB 560 (Del. Palakovich Karr, D - Ways & Means) would repeal the existing exemption from sales/use tax and property tax for personal property used at qualified data centers in Maryland. Part of a 2026 wave of state-level legislation rethinking data center tax incentives — over 300 state data center bills have been filed across 30+ states in just six weeks of the 2026 session. Maryland separately overrode a Moore veto to mandate a comprehensive data center impact study (due Sept 2026), reflecting growing legislative skepticism of data center subsidies as energy costs rise. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: HB 560 (repeal data center tax exemptions) never advanced past its Feb 12 Ways & Means hearing; MD adjourned sine die Apr 13, 2026.

Maryland HB 120 (Dels. Fisher, Chisholm, Morgan, Szeliga - all R) would prohibit any person or government unit from constructing or approving construction of a data center until the General Assembly enacts companion co-location legislation tying data centers to new or existing power generation (natural gas, nuclear, or SMRs). Scheduled for committee hearing in early February 2026. Maryland has no cohesive statewide policy; January 2026 reporting indicates additional proposals for PSC operating certificate requirements for large data centers. The Department of Environment, Maryland Energy Administration, and University of Maryland School of Business will produce a data center impact study by September 1, 2026 (climate study bill became law via veto override). HB 560 (separate, Del. Palakovich Karr D) would repeal data center sales/use and property tax exemptions. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: HB 120 (moratorium tying data centers to co-located generation) did not advance out of House Environment & Transportation; MD sine die Apr 13, 2026. The omnibus Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532) was the surviving vehicle.

Governor Wes Moore signed HB 1532, the Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act, into law on or about April 15, 2026, the day after the General Assembly passed it on the final day of session (April 13/14). The bill's data center provisions create a large-load registry program for grid management, require data centers to pay for transmission, distribution, interconnection, and new capacity costs (preventing cost-shifting to other ratepayers), and incentivize data centers to bring their own clean energy generation with battery backup (effective 2028). Top-tier projects receive 12-month expedited environmental permitting and priority interconnection. Critics including Food & Water Watch criticized provisions they characterized as pro-industry. The law saves Maryland families an estimated $150/year on energy bills.