Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen is looking to slam the brakes on large data centers inside city limits, at least for now. On Monday, he introduced legislation that would pause construction of new facilities, planning to draw at least 10 megawatts of electrical load. Cohen says that threshold is aimed squarely at the hyperscale projects that could strain nearby neighborhoods and utility systems. The proposed one-year timeout is meant to give the city space to study environmental, fiscal, and grid impacts before any more permits move ahead.
In an interview with The Baltimore Banner, Cohen put it bluntly: "I don't want to sacrifice my neighbors to the altar of data centers." He told the outlet that Baltimore should not rush into deals without a clear handle on the financial and environmental costs. According to the Banner, Cohen’s proposal would require large-load customers like data centers to pay for any necessary electrical infrastructure upgrades themselves, instead of pushing those expenses onto residential ratepayers. The moratorium would run for one year while city agencies study where and how these facilities should be allowed.
County And State Lawmakers Hit Their Own Pause Buttons
Cohen is not the only official pumping the brakes. Baltimore County’s council unanimously voted in February to pause data center permitting through the end of 2026, according to The BayNet. Prince George’s County imposed a six-month pause last year while a task force examined the potential effects of the industry. At the state level, lawmakers have filed bills to tighten siting rules or even impose broad moratoria. Testimony on House Bill 120, for example, describes a proposal that would bar new data centers unless they "bring their own generation," as outlined in the Office of People’s Counsel.
Grid Strain And Big Bills Drive Caution
Officials are not just talking in abstractions. A controversial underground transmission project tied to the Baltimore Peninsula was paused after cost estimates ballooned toward half a billion dollars, a move state leaders credited to community pressure. WYPR reported that the Port Covington transmission work was initially pegged near $100 million but had swelled to nearly $500 million before BGE announced a pause. In the wake of that sticker shock, Senate President Bill Ferguson has pushed for more oversight and for measures that would prohibit data centers in Tax Increment Financing districts such as the Baltimore Peninsula, Maryland Matters reports.
Neighborhood Blowback Meets Developer Interest
Cohen’s pause proposal arrives at the intersection of neighborhood anxiety and big-money interest. MAG Partners CEO MaryAnne Gilmartin has acknowledged that the Baltimore Peninsula has been "getting a lot of data center interest," Bisnow reports. At the same time, a local small-business owner’s Instagram clip about the peninsula drew six-figure views, The Baltimore Banner noted. That combination of big developers eyeing large parcels and neighbors voicing concerns about noise, water use, and higher electricity bills helps explain why Cohen is pushing for a measured pause.
What Happens Next
Cohen’s bill is being introduced to the City Council and is expected to head to committee hearings, where staff will examine grid, water, and zoning implications. He has already been talking up the policy on local airwaves. WYPR aired an interview in which Cohen laid out his concerns and priorities. Meanwhile, state-level debates, including proposals like HB 120, mean the next stretch in Annapolis could reshape the legal framework for where and how data centers are allowed across Maryland.
Legal And Fiscal Implications
Testimony on HB 120 would require new data centers to be co‑located with generation capacity, a "bring‑your‑own‑generation" approach that would effectively pause traditional builds until the General Assembly adopts new rules, according to the Office of People’s Counsel. That testimony warns that unchecked data center growth has driven higher capacity and transmission costs across PJM, and that requiring operators to fund their own power would shield residential ratepayers. Whether Baltimore’s local pause ultimately aligns with, or gets overtaken by, state action is what residents and utilities will be watching closely.
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