EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*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
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 12, 2025
CHAPTER ______
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
2 HOUSE BILL 270
(ii) the potential impacts on the State’s ability to meet its bay 1
restoration goals and other environmental objectives; and 2
(iii) the availability of technologies that could mitigate the 3
environmental impacts of data centers, and the feasibility of implementing these 4
technologies in the State; 5
(2) an assessment by the Maryland Energy Administration of the potential 6
energy impacts of the data center industry, including an evaluation of: 7
(i) the energy requirements of data centers; 8
(ii) the potential impacts of the data center industry on current and 9
forecasted energy demand and supply in the State, including how data centers will likely 10
affect future energy infrastructure needs and costs paid by ratepayers; and 11
(iii) the potential impacts of the data center industry on the State’s 12
ability to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments and clean energy goals; 13
and 14
(3) an assessment by the University of Maryland School of Business, in 15
consultation with industry experts, of the potential economic and fiscal impacts of the data 16
center industry in the State, including an evaluation of: 17
(i) the likely impact of data centers on State and local revenues and 18
expenditures; and 19
(ii) the jobs likely to be created through the construction and 20
operation of data centers. 21
(c) (1) The Department of Legislative Services shall coordinate the 22
preparation of the analysis and synthesize the assessments by the Department of the 23
Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the University of Maryland 24
School of Business into a final report. 25
(2) At the request of the Department of Legislative Services, other relevant 26
units of State government, including the Department of Natural Resources, the 27
Department of Assessments and Taxation, the Department of Commerce, and the Public 28
Service Commission, shall provide any information necessary to complete the analysis. 29
(3) On or before September 1, 2026, the Department of Legislative Services 30
shall submit the final report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 31
Government Article, the General Assembly. 32
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That th is Act shall take effect July 33
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 2027, 34 HOUSE BILL 270 3
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 1
of no further force and effect. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.