Maryland Data Center News

Jun 2, 2026 · Google

We’ve signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with Voltus to create a smart capacity solution for the grid.

Google has signed a three-year agreement with Voltus to create a smart capacity solution for the PJM grid.

Three-year agreement: Google and Voltus will unlock up to 100 megawatts (MW) of new electricity capacity from flexible distributed energy resources in the PJM grid region (which serves 67 million people). Voltus will orchestrate batteries and smart thermostats, reducing demand when the grid needs it and paying participating local homes and businesses. Implementation timeline: three years from the agreement start.
Background and supporting detail: The post links a Brattle report estimating U.S. consumers could save more than $100 billion over the next decade through smarter grid utilization; Google frames this as part of broader pilots (including data center demand response) to scale models that strengthen grids serving Google data centers.

Jun 1, 2026 · Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Targeted Pressure: How Chinese Manufacturing Competition Impacts US States

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has published a report finding Chinese industrial policy is reshaping global manufacturing and harming industries across every U.S. state.

Main finding & method: The ITIF report (June 1, 2026) analyzes one “national power industry” per state using County Business Patterns employment data, HS/SITC export proxies, and global market-share series to conclude that state-backed Chinese subsidies, export pushes, and overcapacity are driving down prices and pressuring U.S. producers in sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, aircraft, and fabricated metals.
Key facts, numbers, and timelines:China plans ~$150 billion in semiconductor investment through 2030 vs. $52 billion under the U.S. CHIPS funding; the report cites $63.3 billion Chinese semiconductor spending in H1 2025, TSMC’s $165 billion U.S. investment announcement, GE Appliances’ $490 million Appliance Park investment (2025), and state/national export shares and HS-code trade series used throughout the analyses.

May 27, 2026

Cogent Communications to Sell 10 Data Centers to I Squared Capital

Cogent Communications has agreed to sell 10 data centers to I Squared Capital for $225 million in cash.

Transaction details: Cogent is selling 10 data center facilities to I Squared Capital for $225 million (cash); the deal is expected to close in Q3 2026. The portfolio provides approximately 53 megawatts of power capacity and about 259,000 square feet of colocation space across nine U.S. markets (Phoenix; Anaheim, CA; Burbank, CA; Stockton, CA; Atlanta; Chicago; Elkridge, MD; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Houston).
Platform and investment plan:I Squared Capital will create a new U.S. data center operating platform focused on high-density deployments, colocation and AI inference infrastructure, and plans to invest $1 billion via customer-led expansion, capital investment and additional acquisitions; the facilities are fee simple, liquid-cooling enabled with room for expansion and positioned near local internet exchanges. I Squared is described as a Miami-based infrastructure investor with about $60 billion in assets under management.

May 27, 2026

Cogent to Sell Phoenix Data Center as Part of $225 Million National Portfolio Deal

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. has announced the sale of 10 U.S. data center facilities to an I Squared Capital-sponsored entity for $225 million in cash.

Sale details: Cogent will sell 10 facilities located in Phoenix, Anaheim, Burbank, Stockton, Atlanta, Chicago, Elkridge, Kansas City, Nashville, and Houston for $225 million in cash; the transaction is expected to close on the later of June 12, 2026 or the expiration/termination of the applicable Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period. (Cogent’s Tucson data center is not included in the announced sale.)
Portfolio & financing: The acquired portfolio comprises approximately 53 megawatts of installed power capacity and approximately 259,000 square feet of colocation space across nine U.S. markets; I Squared Capital has committed up to $1 billion to build the new U.S. data center operating platform via capital investment, customer-led expansion, and additional acquisitions. Proceeds from the sale are expected to support Cogent deleveraging tied to its 2023 Sprint wireline acquisition and will be contributed to Cogent Communications Group (its borrowing entity).

May 26, 2026

West Virginia’s Power Potential

Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the 50 by 50 energy plan to expand West Virginia’s generation capacity.

Main announcement: Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the 50 by 50 energy plan to increase state capacity from 15 gigawatts to 50 gigawatts by 2050, adopting an all-of-the-above approach; the plan includes a $1.44 billion investment (announced in 2025) to refurbish coal-fired power plants and actions to return Pleasants Power Station to full output. Also announced: a Hope Gas–WATT Fuel Cell customer program to make 7,250 WATT HOME fuel cells available to customers over the next three years.
Background and implementation details: The article summarizes stakeholder perspectives — West Virginia Department of Commerce / Office of Energy (Nicholas Preservati), West Virginia Coal Association (Chris Hamilton), PJM Interconnection (Asim Haque) and Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia (Rebecca McPhail) — on modernizing coal, expanding electric and gas transmission, addressing data center demand, leveraging Frontieras North America’s advanced carbon technology project, and relying on a recent FERC ruling to enable data center co-location with generators. It specifies current generating capacity (~14,000 MW; ~12,500 MW coal, ~1,000 MW natural gas) and emphasizes transmission/pipeline upgrades and site-readiness as prerequisites for project deployment.

May 26, 2026

Powering the Future

Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the 50 by 50 energy plan aiming to expand West Virginia’s generation capacity to 50 gigawatts by 2050.

Main announcement: The plan targets 50 gigawatts by 2050, positioning West Virginia as a primary supplier within the PJM Interconnection; the administration is streamlining permitting, coordinating with utilities, and targeting generation growth to support data centers and other energy-intensive industries.
Details & context: The West Virginia Office of Energy and Department of Commerce are coordinating generation and grid integration across a comprehensive portfolio (coal, natural gas, nuclear, utility-scale solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, distributed solar, battery storage); stakeholders cited include FirstEnergy, the Public Service Commission and federal entities (PJM queue, FERC); lawmakers raised concerns about financial risk, local control, the West Virginia Load Forecast Accountability Act, and tax-treatment in House Bill 2014.

May 18, 2026

Roundup: Trump’s GOP grip / Amendment 3 / Powering AI

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy finished third in Louisiana’s Republican primary.

Bill Cassidy finished third behind Julia Letlow (Trump-backed) and John Fleming; Cassidy voted to convict Trump after Jan. 6. National GOP figures frame the result as evidence of Donald Trump’s continued influence.
The article links the result to ongoing targeting of Republican critics, noting Trump is now focused on Rep. Thomas Massie.

Voters rejected Louisiana’s Amendment 3, blocking use of education trust funds for teacher retirement debt.

The rejection means colleges and public school systems in Louisiana will miss an estimated $70 million in potential savings for universities that proponents said would help offset budget deficits, inflation pressures, campus needs, and student success initiatives.
The piece reports the proposal would have deployed education trust fund balances to pay down teacher retirement debt; voters’ refusal prevents that reallocation.

Officials in at least six states are pushing back against utility rate increases amid AI-driven electricity demand.

Governors, attorneys general and other officials in Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are moving to block proposed utility rate increases and are pressing some utilities to change their financing model for major system upgrades.
The reporting ties the backlash to the artificial intelligence boom, higher electricity bills, growing utility profits, and increased demand from data centers.

May 14, 2026

Policymakers Consider Temporary Pause on AI Data Center Construction: What Stakeholders Need to Know

On March 25, 2026, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act.

Main announcement: The Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on March 25, 2026, would impose a nationwide halt on constructing or upgrading new or existing data centers with a power demand of 20 megawatts (MW) or more until “strong national safeguards” are in place; the Act also seeks to bar government subsidies, require union labor/prevailing wages, and give affected communities ability to approve or reject projects.
Background and related measures: Multiple state and local actions are cited including New York Senate Bill 9144 (prohibits permits for data centers capable of using 20 MW or more until new regulations), indefinite local moratoriums (e.g., Oldham County, KY), over 100 localities with moratoria, a reported $156 billion across 48 projects blocked or delayed in 2025, and the Port Washington, WI referendum requiring voter approval for tax-increment financing for projects with base value or project costs over $10 million; Virginia legislative action (Senate Bill 30) would end a sales/use tax exemption for certain data center equipment on January 1, 2027.

May 13, 2026

AI Infrastructure’s Next Bottleneck May Be Public Acceptance

Melissa Farney (Data Center Frontier) argues that AI data center expansion has become a first‑order political and permitting constraint, citing recent legislative and local actions including the “Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act” proposal and Maine’s LD 307 veto.

Main point: The article states that AI‑oriented data center growth is now a core political and permitting risk for operators, not just a siting or PR issue, citing industry forecasts such as JLL’s ~$710 billion North America capex projection to 2026 and project‑level impact estimates from Data Center Watch (approximately $18B blocked and $46B delayed, totalling $64B) and a New York Times compilation of $156B across 48 AI projects disrupted in 2025.
Key supporting facts & recent actions: Federal and state moves are already concrete: Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez unveiled the “Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act”; Maine’s LD 307 (would have paused data centers >20 MW through Nov 1, 2027) was vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills; local utilities like the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority (YCUA) imposed a 12‑month moratorium on new water/sewer hookups in April 2026. The article also highlights New Jersey bill S731/A796 (require 85% of requested service for 10 years for very large loads) as an example of state-level cost‑allocation tools.

May 11, 2026

Maryland Pushes Back on $2 Billion Grid Upgrades

The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) against PJM Interconnection challenging an estimated $2 billion in electricity transmission costs.

Main action: The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel filed a complaint with FERC alleging approximately $2 billion in electricity transmission costs are being unfairly shifted onto Maryland residents and businesses by PJM Interconnection.
Background and details: The complaint contends PJM’s cost allocation formula improperly requires Maryland ratepayers to subsidize transmission projects that are primarily driven by data center expansion in other states; PJM is identified as the regional grid operator serving 13 states and Washington, D.C.

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