{"id":1243355,"date":"2026-01-14T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/?p=1243355"},"modified":"2026-01-14T16:05:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T21:05:05","slug":"prince-georges-county-data-centers-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/prince-georges-county-data-centers-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince George’s Leaders, Advocates Call for Transparency, Consideration in Data Center Developments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Prince George\u2019s County leaders and advocates are urging lawmakers and developers to prioritize the needs and safeguard the well-being of the community and the environment when considering the construction of data centers in the area, as more proposals appear in Maryland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the possibility of a hyperscale data center being built at the former Landover Mall site, the recent zoning approval in Frederick County that would allow for the construction of data centers across a 2,600-acre plot of land, and the suggestion to use the former Six Flags property in Bowie for these kinds of facilities, many hope that any approved proposals proceed responsibly and sustainably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t an anti-technology fight,\u201d Staci Hartwell, founding member of the South County Environmental Justice Coalition <\/a>(SCEJC) and member of Prince George\u2019s County\u2019s Qualified Data Center Task Force<\/a>, told The Informer. \u201cIt’s a pro-people, pro-ratepayer, pro-public health fight.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many residents, activists, and leaders were displeased with the proposed hyperscale data center at the former Landover Mall site, and the development was paused after an eruption of public objection to the development in September 2025. Two months later, the Qualified Data Center Task Force published the findings<\/a> of the research it had conducted since April, exploring community input and how these structures would impact energy demand, the environment and residents\u2019 quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
**FILE** The Qualified Data Center Task Force holds a public meeting to discuss the pros and cons of having a data center in Landover, Maryland, in September 2025. (Robert R. Roberts\/The Washington Informer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lawmakers also voted in favor of increased research on the matter in December 2025, as they overturned Gov. Wes Moore\u2019s veto on Maryland House Bill (HB) 0270, the Data Center Impact and Analysis Report<\/a>. The bill requires the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration and the University of Maryland School of Business to analyze data centers\u2019 environmental, energy and economic implications in the state and submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by Sept. 1, 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it is so important for communities to keep letting their legislators\u2026 know that this is something that they care about,\u201d Angie McCarthy, the Maryland Conservation Advocate for environmental organization Nature Forward<\/a>, told The Informer. \u201cWe’re going to continue pushing for statewide legislation, and we hope that community members continue to stay involved because there’s a big conversation that’s happening at the state level that we need people to pay attention to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safeguarding a Fragile Energy Grid<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of Prince George\u2019s Councilmember Wala Blegay\u2019s (D-At-large)<\/a> biggest concerns about proposed data centers in the region\u2013 especially those that are hyperscale\u2013 is their high energy demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These structures, which are usually 10,000 square feet or larger, require a power draw of more than 100 megawatts. One megawatt is equal to one million watts, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission<\/a> states is the amount of electricity annually consumed by 400 to 900<\/a> homes.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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**FILE** Prince George\u2019s Council member Wala Blegay speaks at a Qualified Data Center Task Force meeting in September 2025. Blegay says many residents are against building a data center in the space that was once Landover Mall, and instead hope the site can be used for mixed development. (Robert R. Roberts\/The Washington Informer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On a greatly strained energy grid, which has caused utility bills to surge, such a tremendous energy requirement can pose a serious problem for consumers in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t have them get in on our power. They\u2019ve got to bring their own generation,\u201d Blegay, who is a Qualified Data Center Task Force member, told The Informer. \u201cWe want to make sure there\u2019s a use of clean energy with data centers\u2026 [and] that any location is not close to people\u2019s homes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a possible solution to the high power draw these facilities require, the Task Force\u2019s November report suggests that the county could convince the Public Service Commission to implement a surcharge on data centers that encourages the use of energy-efficient building guidelines and cooling technologies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This proposed solution would go hand in hand with HB 1035\/ Senate Bill (SB) 937, the Next Generation Energy Act<\/a>, which promotes the increase of power generation and battery energy storage within the state, while also protecting consumers by reducing costs through the limitation of how utilities can spend ratepayers\u2019 money. The Task Force also suggests the country encourage an expansion of the bill to include that customers with consumption exceeding 100 megawatts pay their own transmission and distribution costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe just really have to end the practice of treating Black and brown communities as acceptable sacrifice zones,\u201d Hartwell told The Informer. \u201cThere are smarter ways to move forward\u2013 ways that people can be proud of.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternative Options for Economic Growth <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prince George\u2019s County is currently in the midst of a budget deficit of $130 to $170 million for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), which is why many in favor of expanded data center development say these structures are needed to bring in economic opportunity to the region. With projects that are so demanding of resources and are drivers of air, noise and light pollution, advocates wonder if this is the smartest path to go down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Virginia holds the highest concentration of data centers in the world, as its lack of taxation on the structures is attractive to developers. In the Commonwealth\u2019s 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report<\/a> (ACFR), it was revealed that the amount of abated taxes in the state amounted to $1.6 billion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithout transparency and without the data points, we don\u2019t actually know how Maryland is going to economically benefit from data centers,\u201d McCarthy told The Informer. \u201cEvery community is really different, so it’s hard to brush all data center concerns over with one simple clause of\u2026 [making] so much money in taxes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People like Tolson Banner, executive director of the Prince George\u2019s County Community Development Corporation<\/a> (PGCCDC), believe that ideas like the proposed Medical Innovation Campus<\/a> in the southern part of the county are more beneficial and sustainable ways to fuel economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The campus, which would be located in Clinton, would be centered around the MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital. It would feature an expanded hospital and create a mixed-use area that includes access to retail, healthy food options, recreation, green spaces and housing opportunities. Such a campus could potentially create a multitude of jobs for residents while efficiently addressing their needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone started believing that data centers would be the cure-all for their fiscal ills, when, in fact,…. It\u2019s turning out not to be that,\u201d Banner told The Informer. \u201cLet\u2019s take a step back and see how we can simultaneously deal with these ills and not just focus on\u2026 increasing the commercial tax base.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the Landover site was once a shopping center bustling with customers and offering job opportunities, many, including Blegay, believe that the plot of land has the potential to truly benefit the community. The council member, other Task Force members, advocates and residents alike, do not want to see a data center built there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a whole campus. We can do mixed development there,\u201d Blegay told The Informer. \u201cInstead of putting a data center there, I think there are other things we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prince George’s County leaders and advocates are urging lawmakers and developers to prioritize the needs of the community and the environment when considering the construction of data centers in the area, as more proposals appear in Maryland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4888,"featured_media":1243356,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_primary_brand":0,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","nota_seo_page_title":"Maryland data centers face scrutiny over energy usage","nota_seo_page_description":"Prince George's County leaders and advocates urge responsible development of data centers, prioritizing community well-being and environmental protection.","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"Maryland Residents Could Be At Risk if Data Center Developments Haphazardly Approved","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62361,30826],"tags":[23686,56746,64321,41950,77829,32179,88134],"brand":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"nota":[],"coauthors":[79049],"class_list":["post-1243355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","category-prince-georges-county","tag-environmental-issues","tag-frederick-county","tag-maryland-department-of-the-environment","tag-maryland-energy-administration","tag-mya-trujillo","tag-prince-georges-county","tag-staci-hartwell","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaryland data centers face scrutiny over energy usage - 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