Overview
- Cohen’s bill, introduced Monday, would pause approvals for data centers that draw at least 10 megawatts for one year and now heads to committee for a hearing.
- The pause is meant to give time for a state-authorized study and to build a city process to register large power users.
- Cohen frames the move as protection for households facing high utility bills by requiring big electricity customers to cover their own costs.
- BGE said it will impose guardrails so large-load customers fund needed grid upgrades and provide financial assurances, with studies to confirm the system can handle new demand.
- At the state level, Senate President Bill Ferguson filed a bill to bar data centers in certain zones, and BGE has paused a contested South Baltimore transmission line after his press event.