Maryland Data Center News

Apr 9, 2026

From Reactor Designs to Real Projects: SMRs Enter the Execution Era as AI Power Demand Accelerates

Data Center Frontier reports that the SMR story in early 2026 has moved from reactor design discussion to concrete industrial execution focused on permits, fuel, supply chains, financing, and customer traction.

Main announcement / action: Through Q1 2026 (notably March), multiple vendors advanced from partnership announcements to tangible progress: TerraPower secured an NRC construction permit for Natrium; Holtec had its LWA docketed for two SMR-300 units at Palisades and is pursuing preliminary construction and a partnership with Hyundai Engineering & Construction (aiming at up to 10 GW in North America); X-energy confidentially filed for an IPO (Reuters, March 20) and signed MOUs with Talen Energy (evaluating multiple four-unit Xe-100 deployments) and IHI to strengthen U.S.-Japan supply chains.
Background and other details: Vendors are addressing three execution constraints: regulatory progress, manufacturing and fuel ecosystems (e.g., NuScale expanded its Framatome fuel partnership and planned U.S. production at Richland; Oklo and Centrus plan HALEU-related joint activities at Piketon, Ohio; Kairos secured a HALEU contract with DOE), and customer alignment (growing emphasis on industrial users, utilities, and data-center-driven load). Additional milestones: GE Hitachi advanced BWRX-300 deployment work (Step 2 UK GDA, MoUs in Southeast Asia and Poland) and Rolls-Royce SMR received a UK Justification Decision and partnered on supply-chain and control-systems work.

Apr 7, 2026

Will the Dickerson data center project impact MoCo’s environment?

Atmosphere Data Centers and Terra Energy propose a large data center campus at the former Dickerson power plant site in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Project announcement and status: Atmosphere Data Centers (developer) and Terra Energy (site owner) are proposing a 110-acre data center campus with a planned capacity of 360 megawatts; Terra Energy filed an initial application in December 2023, so this article reports on an ongoing proposal rather than a first-time announcement. The campus would connect to the grid via FirstEnergy transmission lines and requires new on-site infrastructure (substation, switchyard).
Key technical and regulatory details: Atmosphere says the campus would use an average 69,300 gallons/day for cooling with a proposed maximum daily allowance of 500,000 gallons; the company plans diesel generators with emissions controls for backup (selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters). Atmosphere has submitted water withdrawal and discharge permit applications to the Maryland Department of the Environment, while local activists and county officials are urging a 100% renewable energy commitment and greater transparency on water use. County climate targets cited: 80% emissions reduction by 2027 and 100% by 2035.

Apr 2, 2026

Panel discusses how energy demand from data centers nationwide will impact Pennsylvania

The Clean Energy Group, Clean Air Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania released a report titled “The High Cost of AI: How Data Centers are Reshaping Pennsylvania’s Energy Landscape.”

Main finding: The report finds Pennsylvania will export electricity to surrounding PJM states to meet growing data center demand, with PJM relying on Pennsylvania to supply energy to high-demand importers like Virginia (35% of hyperscale data centers); it projects an additional 24 to 44 million metric tons of CO2 by the end of the decade and an estimated $20 billion public health burden in 2028.
Background & local context: The report was discussed at a University of Scranton event with local officials and residents; Archbald has six proposed data center campuses under local opposition, the groups support Sen. Katie Muth’s three-year moratorium (co-sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Brown), and utilities such as PPL Electric Utilities perform system upgrade studies that can socialize costs across ratepayers.

Apr 2, 2026

States Race to Win the Tech Economy in 2026 State of the State Addresses

Broadband and technology were prioritized across nearly 30 governors’ 2026 State of the State addresses.

Main announcement: Governors across the country emphasized broadband expansion, AI policy and workforce development, and data center/energy planning; specific claims include Maine reporting “more than a quarter million homes and businesses” served, Wisconsin reporting 410,000 businesses and households with new or improved internet, Kansas connecting 117,000 households and businesses, and the Virgin Islands reporting a territory-wide internet program with over 50,000 users per month. The addresses also included concrete funding and contract figures: Maryland announced a $4 million AI workforce training investment, and South Dakota cited a $35 million Department of Defense contract for warhead production.
Background and other details: Governors described partnerships and policy actions: Maryland cited collaborations with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Microsoft, a South Korean biotech firm, and AstraZeneca for AI work; Iowa cited partnerships with Amazon Web Services and Google Public Sector to modernize state systems; several governors (Indiana, New York, Nebraska) debated who should shoulder data center energy costs or accelerate permitting; some states (New Hampshire, Delaware, South Carolina) signaled nuclear energy pathways and DOE engagement. Implementation timelines are those stated in addresses (2026) and referenced ongoing programs and contracts (e.g., South Dakota’s $35 million DoD contract already awarded).

Mar 30, 2026

It’s Time to End Data Centers’ Massive Tax Break

The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) is urging Virginia legislators and Governor Spanberger to eliminate or phase out the $1.9 billion annual sales tax exemption for data center equipment and is mobilizing constituents to contact their representatives before the legislature reconvenes.

Main announcement/action: PEC asks Virginians to urge the General Assembly and Governor Spanberger to end or phase out the $1.9 billion annual sales tax break for data centers; the Senate’s budget would phase out the exemption while the House keeps it. Key dates and actions: reconvene April 23 (legislature), advocacy kick-off Zoom call March 30 at 6:30 p.m. (register link provided), and a “Send Your Email” action page to contact delegates, senators and the governor today.
Background and details: PEC cites Dominion Energy’s 70 GWs of load requests and ongoing monthly >1 GW requests, estimates of over $100 billion in new generation/transmission/substation infrastructure (including $30 billion for transmission and a 114-mile, 765 kilovolt proposed line), and an independent PEC analysis estimating $53–$99 million/year in health damages from on-site fossil generation at a Loudoun County facility. Also summarizes bill statuses (HB153/SB94; SB553/HB496; HB507; SB619/HB155; SB339/HB658).

Mar 25, 2026

Path cleared for massive data center in Frederick State environmental officials have cleared another hurdle for a new data center campus in Frederick, Maryland.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued a final determination approving an air quality permit for Amazon Data Services, Inc., allowing installation of emergency backup generators at 3250 Digital Drive in Frederick, MD.

Permit approval & limits: MDE approved installation of 99 diesel-fired emergency generators at the Frederick data center but prohibits use as a primary power source, prohibits selling power back to the grid, and limits generator operation to periodic testing only to ensure they function during outages.
Oversight & compliance requirements: MDE will perform unannounced inspections, review the facility’s operational logs, and Amazon must submit annual emissions reports; before storing diesel on-site Amazon must obtain a separate oil permit and provide a rigorous spill prevention plan.

Mar 24, 2026

Google Has PPAs for Solar Power from Renewable Energy Group

Sunraycer Renewables announced it has executed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Google for the Lupinus and Lupinus 2 solar projects in Franklin County, Texas.

Main announcement: Sunraycer executed long-term PPAs with Google to support construction and operation of the combined ~400-MWac Lupinus photovoltaic (PV) facility (Lupinus and Lupinus 2); both projects are expected to begin commercial operation in late 2027, and the transaction was facilitated through LevelTen Energy’s Accelerated Process (LEAP).
Background and details: Sunraycer is a Crayhill Capital Management portfolio company with a development, construction-stage, and operational pipeline of about 3 GW of solar and battery projects; the projects will operate in the ERCOT market and LevelTen notes it provides access to more than 4,500 PPA price offers across 28 countries, with LEAP taking the RFP to contract execution in under 10 weeks.

Mar 17, 2026

‘Interconnection remains the big bottleneck’: Zenobē Energy on US deployment strategies, grid connections, and data centres

Laurence Copson of Zenobē Energy discusses US energy storage policy ahead of the Energy Storage Summit USA and the article references a bipartisan call by the Trump administration and 13 governors urging PJM to overhaul market rules to support more than US$15 billion of reliable baseload power.

Main announcement/action: Copson outlines near-term policy levers—notably PJM’s Critical Issue Fast Path (CIFP) and the reliability backstop procurement—as the single largest immediate opportunity for storage to compete with new generation; PJM projects a ~30GW capacity shortfall by 2030 rising to ~55GW by 2035, and the procurement process is expected to yield 15-year contracts and could materialise within the next 12 months.
Background and event details: The discussion situates rising data centre-driven demand and interconnection/permitting bottlenecks as primary deployment constraints; additional factual details:
- Event: Energy Storage Summit USA 2026
  - Date: 24-25 March 2026
  - Location: Dallas, TX
  - Session: “Policy Pathways for Meeting Load Growth” featuring Laurence Copson, Huiyi Jackson (Edison Electric Institute), Marshall Coover (Texas Energy Buyers Alliance), Aaron Klien (Lincoln International), Matthew Bos (Advanced Energy United), moderated by Daniel Spitzer (Hodgson Russ LLP).

Mar 14, 2026

Environmental groups raise concerns about possible Fairfax Co. land sale to data center developer

Fairfax County is proposing to sell 41.7 acres at 3721 Stonecroft Boulevard to Starwood Capital Group for $166.8 million.

Main announcement/action: The county proposal requests sale of 41.7 acres to Starwood Capital Group for $166.8 million; proceeds will help fund modern police training facilities collocated with a new Criminal Justice Academy. The county’s FAQ states the sale does not approve use as a data center, a public hearing is scheduled for March 17, and a county timeline indicates construction would not start until summer 2028.
Background and other details: Local environmental groups (Nature Forward, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sierra Club Great Falls Group) raised concerns about transparency, potential data center use and health/energy impacts on low-income communities; county says it received an unsolicited offer, contacted other companies, accepted competing offers, and had a third-party appraisal to confirm fair market value. Zoning requires data centers to be at least 200 feet from residential lot lines; nearest homes ~3,000 feet away and nearest school 1.3 miles away.

Mar 12, 2026

Fossil generation could rise with faster-than-expected growth in data center power demand

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published an analysis showing that faster-than-expected electricity demand growth driven by data centers could increase natural gas and coal generation and raise wholesale electricity prices.

Main analysis and assumptions: The EIA produced a high demand growth scenario in which 2026 and 2027 growth rates are 50% higher than the February STEO in data-center-heavy regions, while other regions are +1 percentage point above STEO; the scenario assumes no additional generating capacity beyond the February STEO and applies an assumed +$0.50/MMBtu increase in natural gas delivered prices across regions.
Key modeled outcomes and metrics: Under the scenario, natural gas generation rises to +7.3% (123 BkWh) between 2025–2027 (vs 1.7% baseline), coal generation declines by 5.0% (37 BkWh) nationwide in the high case, and ERCOT 2027 wholesale prices model +$37/MWh above the February STEO (excluding ERCOT the average 2027 wholesale price is +$2.10/MWh above the STEO forecast of $48/MWh).

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