Maryland Data Center Intel

Recent Maryland data center news

• 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.
• May 11, 2026

  Senate Bill Would Explore Satellite Broadband Expansion Across Appalachia

  The Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act, introduced by Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), would require the Appalachian Regional Commission to study the incorporation of satellite broadband into regional broadband projects.

  • Requires Appalachian Regional Commission study: The bill would direct the Appalachian Regional Commission to evaluate satellite broadband effectiveness for business use, examine economic development outcomes in areas already using satellite connectivity, and assess the overall cost-effectiveness of the technology; if the study finds satellite effective, rural businesses and communities could seek ARC funding under the commission’s programs.
  • Context and supporting details: The proposal builds on a House companion bill passed by unanimous voice vote in March; the ARC currently prioritizes fiber-optic infrastructure but funds other technologies that provide “fiber-like” experiences in challenging terrain; the article cites an Ookla white paper finding Starlink increasingly meets the FCC benchmark of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload.
• May 8, 2026

  World-leading climate centre takes Trump administration to court

  UCAR (the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) has sued the US government and asked a court to freeze plans to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

  • Main action:UCAR (a coalition of around 130 universities) sued the government in March and on 3 April asked a US district court judge to freeze plans to transfer stewardship of NCAR’s supercomputing centre in Cheyenne, Wyoming; a court hearing took place on 7 May and Judge R. Brooke Jackson said he would issue a decision “as promptly as possible”.
  • Background and timeline: Documents show the White House budget office instructed the NSF in November to begin restructuring NCAR to align with Administration priorities; the NSF requested proposals and public comments (deadline 13 March) but told NCAR officials on 12 February that it had decided to transfer the supercomputing centre; UCAR argues the process is a “sham process” while the NSF says “a final decision has not been made to transfer stewardship.”
• May 7, 2026

  50 States of Power Decarbonization Q1 2026: Lawmakers Tackle Cost Allocation and Ratepayer Protections for Large Load Additions

  The NC Clean Energy Technology Center released the Q1 2026 edition of the 50 States of Power Decarbonization report.

  • Report release & key findings: The Q1 2026 report documents 509 actions taken by 49 states plus Puerto Rico during the quarter and notes more than 600 introduced bills not yet passed. It reports planned capacity additions of 58,276 MW solar, 54,952 MW natural gas, 30,297 MW storage, and 22,358 MW wind, and 30,967 MW of planned coal retirements.
  • Top developments & context: The report highlights top policy developments including the Arizona Corporation Commission repealing the state renewable energy standard, Florida requiring large load tariffs, a North Carolina task force report on large load growth, Virginia rejoining RGGI, and El Paso Electric proposing large load tariffs in New Mexico; the most active states in Q1 2026 were Virginia, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Arizona.
• May 5, 2026

  IQ Fiber Launches Fiber-Optic Internet Service in Pinellas County, Florida

  IQ Fiber has launched 100 percent fiber-optic internet service in Pinellas County, Florida, covering St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo.

  • Launch: IQ Fiber launched 100% fiber-optic internet service in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo); Investment: marks the beginning of a more than $100 million investment in the region; Jobs: expected to create more than 50 permanent jobs.
  • Background & footprint: Jacksonville-based company founded in 2021 with funding from SDC Capital Partners; current network serves Jacksonville and Gainesville (FL) and areas in Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, and South Carolina; public comments quoted IQ Fiber CEO Ted Schremp and Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector.
• May 5, 2026

  New Data Center Developments: May 2026

  Data Center Knowledge published a monthly roundup highlighting global data center project announcements, regulatory moves, and investment commitments driven by hyperscale AI demand.

  • Main announcement: The roundup catalogs multiple concrete project actions including Aligned Data Centers’ Project Caprock (540 MW, 313-acre campus in Hale County, Texas; initial delivery Q1 2027), EdgeCore’s completion of $1.5 billion in financing for two Northern Virginia hyperscale centers, and Yondr Group energizing a 27 MW Toronto facility expected in mid-2026. It also notes major investment commitments such as Digital Realty’s near S$7 billion Singapore plan (S$4.3 billion for new data centers) and AWS increasing planned investment in Mississippi to $25 billion.
  • Context and details: The piece outlines parallel regulatory updates in U.S. states (Maine vetoed a moratorium; Wisconsin revised We Energies tariff rules; North Carolina advanced legislation to require hyperscalers to cover infrastructure costs), workforce and partnership initiatives (Equinix Foundation with ODATA, Cisco, Vertiv launching training in Brazil, cohorts mid-2026), and other regional projects and financings (TikTok €1 billion Finland site; Ark Data Centres >€600 million Barcelona project; Equinix land purchases in South Africa totaling ZAR 890 million).
• May 3, 2026

  Eric Bethras: From Fiber to Fabric, the Next Evolution of BEAD

  Maryland has announced the Statewide Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG) and its in-house “Single View” platform to coordinate transportation routes, towers, government facilities, and un(der)served communities under a single, multi-use digital infrastructure strategy.

  • Main announcement: Maryland’s DoIT is implementing the Statewide Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG) and the Single View geospatial platform to create a unified inventory of infrastructure assets (fiber, towers, facilities, un(der)served areas) so agencies can coordinate planning, align funding, and prioritize investments; the state endorses a “Goldilocks approach” to size infrastructure for multi-use outcomes (broadband, public safety, AI-ready services).
  • Background and policy request: The piece, authored by Eric Bathras (DoIT CTO), urges federal action as BEAD remaining funds are considered—recommending NTIA and Congress explicitly allow states to use BEAD residual funds for middle-mile networks, shared-use assets, integrated planning platforms, and corridor-based strategies to unlock public-private collaboration; the article describes ongoing programs led by the author, including networkMaryland, Maryland MD FiRST, Cloud & Datacenter Services, and DoIT’s Infrastructure Agreements.
• Apr 16, 2026

  Data Centers Economic Benefits Are Overstated, Advocates Say

  Advocates (MediaJustice) say data center developers are overselling economic benefits to local communities.

  • Main claim: Brandon Forester of MediaJustice argued developers “overstate benefits,” citing Prince George’s County’s $6 million annual revenue and saying that revenue is often reduced by incentives such as tax breaks on expensive GPUs.
  • Context & sourcing: This is a commentary by an advocate (not a government announcement); it references Prince George’s County revenue figures and alleges developers grant tax breaks on the most profitable parts of data centers, but does not report any new policy, contract, or formal government decision.
• Apr 15, 2026

  Energy company wants eminent domain for power lines in SW Pa. for data centers in Virginia

  NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic Inc. is seeking a certificate of public convenience from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to build the 107-mile MidAtlantic Resiliency Link and to obtain eminent domain rights in Pennsylvania.

  • Project details & authority: NextEra plans a 107-mile transmission line (reported as a 500-volt line in the article) from Dunkard Township, Greene County, PA to an endpoint in Northern Virginia; the project was awarded by PJM to meet data center demand and retirements, and NextEra is requesting a PUC certificate that would grant eminent domain authority.
  • Local impacts, economics & schedule: NextEra estimates $33 million in Pennsylvania economic output during construction and 150 construction and related jobs, while its filings state no full-time jobs will remain in-state after completion; opposition noted by the Center for Coalfield Justice cites residents’ fears of losing homes.
    • Prehearing conference: May 6, 10:00 am, before Administrative Law Judge John M. Coogan (Pennsylvania PUC proceeding).