Dear Friends,

This week data centers were back in the news with an announcement from Governor Wes Moore.  I want to thank him for raising some important issues with his new executive order.

Data centers present real economic opportunities, but they also raise serious questions about energy use, electric rates, water, the environment, infrastructure, and the benefits they actually provide to the communities where they are located.

Those questions need to be answered before we make decisions that could have consequences for decades.

I appreciate that Gov. Moore is looking at whether data centers will pay the costs associated with the enormous amount of electricity they require, along with the infrastructure to deliver it, whether they are creating good jobs and economic benefits, how they affect the environment and surrounding communities, and whether developers are being transparent about what they are proposing.

The public transparency in this order is particularly important. Communities should know who is developing these projects, how much power and water they expect to use, what commitments they have made, and whether they are actually meeting those commitments.

Here in Montgomery County, we made the decision earlier this year to temporarily pause new data center development while we examine many of these same issues.

I continue to believe that was the responsible decision.

We knew the State was also looking closely at data center policy, and the pause allows us to understand the impacts and put appropriate protections in place rather than trying to fix problems after projects have already been approved.

My staff and I are reviewing the Governor’s executive order. We want to understand how the State framework works with the issues we are examining locally.

I appreciate that the Governor recognizes the important role local governments and communities have in this process. Land use, water, infrastructure, and the impacts on surrounding communities are inherently local issues, and this framework acknowledges that.

Maryland Family and Medical Leave

Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu joined me on my media briefing this week to promote “FAMLI”—Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program.

Back in 2015, I co-sponsored the bill that established sick and safe leave here in Montgomery County. The following year, I co-sponsored legislation to expand the qualifying events under that law to include the welcoming of a new child. And in 2022, I welcomed the passage of the Time to Care Act, legislation that is now being implemented as FAMLI.

The United States lags behind the rest of the world in guaranteeing paid leave to support family matters. Whether someone is caring for a newborn, supporting a family member through an illness, looking after an aging parent, or meeting some other family need, FAMLI will make a real difference for workers across the state.

It offers job security, a financial lifeline, and the time people need to care for the people they love.

Montgomery County is at the heart of the third-largest life science cluster in the entire country. We’re building an innovation economy around AI, quantum computing, and biotech that depends on attracting and retaining top talent. Benefits like FAMLI align with the workforce investments we’re making and the support we provide to small businesses through our Business Center.

Click here for full news release from Montgomery County Government