Protected Farmland is being prioritized for solar statewide while Governor Moore has vetoed a study of the number one emerging energy use - Data Centers

We Have Some Questions

Two issues - linked by a lack of systems thinking on both the supply and demand side:

1. The just passed Renewable Energy Certainty Act prioritizes 100,000 acres of protected farmland/forests/stream buffers for solar/battery infrastructure (including 5000 acres of the Ag Reserve.) A recent petition effort to put this bill on the ballot in 2026 to give the voters a say in smart solar strategy (in which MCA played a part) has fallen short.

2. A sensible Data Center study bill passed by the general assembly would have explored the impacts of this emerging and highly consumptive land use on Maryland communities. The Governor vetoed it citing budget concerns- this study is less than 0.00019% of Maryland’s budget.

Data Centers are a novel, and thus not highly regulated land use. Maryland has the privilege of so many other areas - particularly 'Data Center Alley' in Virginia- taking the plunge first. Here is what we know so far:

• Many thousands of gallons of potable water are needed to cool equipment 24/7
• Large areas of land to site warehouses - often taking farmland and open space
• When power can't come from the grid - that constant power comes from a large number of high emissions diesel generators that need to be tested regularly.
• Each data center has the constant, round the clock power needs of a small city - ratepayers can expect to see increases up to 70% in their bills in the next 5 years.

So a study is not expensive - what is expensive is proceeding without a full understanding of what Data Centers - some of which are already approved and being built - mean for Maryland's power, water, air, and quality of life.

Without an understanding of our potentially sky high power needs - how can we be sure we are planning enough energy generation? With the Renewable Energy Certainty Act, rural areas are being asked to accept an economically destabilizing industrial use (solar). Proponents on the law say it's "only" 5% of the state's farmland. Until we need more.

If data centers - each one with the power needs of a city - are widely approved, we all know where those large buildings will be sited, and we know where more land will be carved off for those power needs. From the MPRP powerline proposed to cut through Baltimore, Frederick and Carrol counties to Virginia's existing data centers , we already know where the power lines will go to power these behemoths.

Taking farmland out of production to solve our modern problems is linear thinking, the same kind that got us into our climate woes in the first place.

Systems thinking - weighing out supply and demand for our energy (and food) future is the only way forward.

Please click "start writing" to urge an override on the data center bill and let your reps know your frustration with short sighted policies on solar laws that prioritize farmland.