MARYLAND (WBFF) — Marylanders overwhelmingly oppose new data centers being built in the state, with concerns about household electricity costs, water quality and nearby quality of life outweighing the potential economic benefits, according to a new statewide poll published Thursday.
The UMBC poll found 78% of likely voters oppose new data centers being built in Maryland, while 13% support them.
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To test whether proximity changed voters’ views, UMBC split the sample in half.
One group was asked whether it supported or opposed new data centers being built in Maryland. In that group, 78% said they oppose new data centers statewide, while 13% said they support them.
The other group was asked whether it would support or oppose a new data center being built near their own community. Seventy-seven percent said they oppose a project near their community, while 16% said they support it.
The biggest concern was electricity; 80% of likely voters said new data centers would have a mostly negative impact on the cost of household electricity, while just 6% said the impact would be mostly positive.
Voters also anticipated negative effects for the people who live near facilities. Seventy-five percent said new data centers would have a mostly negative effect on the overall quality of life for residents near data-center sites. Sixty-eight percent said they expect a mostly negative impact on water quality, and 60% said the same about air quality.
The poll found opposition extends to the economic case for building new facilities.
Forty-nine percent of likely voters said data centers would have a mostly negative impact on Maryland’s economy, compared with 19% who said the impact would be mostly positive. Similarly, 48% said they expect a mostly negative impact on state and local tax revenue, while 20% saw a positive impact.
Views were somewhat less negative when it came to jobs, but voters still were more likely to see downsides. Thirty-seven percent said new data centers would have a mostly negative effect on jobs and employment opportunities for Maryland residents, compared with 26% who said the effect would be mostly positive.
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The findings come weeks after Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order creating a statewide framework for large data-center projects. The order applies when a proposed project of at least 25 megawatts seeks state action, such as a permit, incentive or letter of support. It created a Maryland Data Center Accountability Task Force to review projects under standards focused on ratepayer and grid protection, economic benefits, community voice, environmental protections, and transparency.
The action also calls for a public dashboard showing proposed projects, including their location, developer, projected power demand and water use. Gov. Moore has also said he will work with lawmakers to repeal the state’s data-center sales and use tax exemption.
The new UMBC results reinforce concerns identified in a separate Maryland Now survey conducted by Zenith Research for Blended Public Affairs and Perry Jacobson this summer. That poll found 75% of likely voters were very or somewhat concerned about data centers, including 47% who said they were very concerned.
Among respondents who expressed concern in the Zenith poll, 39% identified electricity use and higher utility bills as their top worry. Environmental impacts followed at 21%, while 12% cited the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and society and 9% pointed to water use. The Zenith survey included 800 likely Maryland general-election voters and was conducted July 27 through Aug. 3.
The poll also measured views of artificial intelligence, where 67% of people said they believe AI will have a negative impact on society, including 37% who said the impact would be “very negative.” Twenty-three percent said AI would have a positive impact, while 10% said they did not know.
The results arrive as Maryland policymakers weigh how to encourage technology investment and job growth while addressing mounting questions about electricity demand, environmental impacts and the role local communities should have in approving major projects.
The UMBC poll surveyed 776 Maryland likely voters from Sept. 22 through Sept. 27. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.