EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0270*
HOUSE BILL 270
M5, M3, C8 5lr1430
(PRE–FILED) CF SB 116
By: Delegate Crosby
Requested: October 28, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Data Center Impact Analysis and Report 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of the Environment, the Maryland Energy 3
Administration, and the University of Maryland School of Business, in coordination 4
with the Department of Legislative Services, to conduct an analysis of the likely 5
environmental, energy, and economic impacts of data center development in the 6
State; and generally relating to data centers. 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9
(a) The Department of the Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration, 10
and the University of Maryland School of Business, in coordination with the Department 11
of Legislative Services, shall conduct an analysis of the likely environmental, energy, and 12
economic impacts of data center development in the State. 13
(b) The analysis shall include: 14
(1) an assessment by the Department of the Environment of the potential 15
impacts of the data center industry on the natural resources of the State, including an 16
evaluation of: 17
(i) the potential impacts on air and water quality; 18
(ii) the potential impacts on the State’s ability to meet its bay 19
restoration goals and other environmental objectives; and 20
(iii) the availability of technologies that could mitigate the 21
environmental impacts of data centers, and the feasibility of implementing these 22
technologies in the State; 23 2 HOUSE BILL 270
(2) an assessment by the Maryland Energy Administration of the potential 1
energy impacts of the data center industry, including an evaluation of: 2
(i) the energy requirements of data centers; 3
(ii) the potential impacts of the data center industry on current and 4
forecasted energy demand and supply in the State, including how data centers will likely 5
affect future energy infrastructure needs and costs paid by ratepayers; and 6
(iii) the potential impacts of the data center industry on the State’s 7
ability to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments and clean energy goals; 8
and 9
(3) an assessment by the University of Maryland School of Business of the 10
potential economic and fiscal impacts of the data center industry in the State, including an 11
evaluation of: 12
(i) the likely impact of data centers on State and local revenues and 13
expenditures; and 14
(ii) the jobs likely to be created through the construction and 15
operation of data centers. 16
(c) (1) The Department of Legislative Services shall coordinate the 17
preparation of the analysis and synthesize the assessments by the Department of the 18
Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the University of Maryland 19
School of Business into a final report. 20
(2) At the request of the Department of Legislative Services, other relevant 21
units of State government, including the Department of Natural Resources, the 22
Department of Assessments and Taxation, the Department of Commerce, and the Public 23
Service Commission, shall provide any information necessary to complete the analysis. 24
(3) On or before September 1, 2026, the Department of Legislative Services 25
shall submit the final report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 26
Government Article, the General Assembly. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 28
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 2027, 29
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 30
of no further force and effect. 31