Gov. Wes Moore evolves on data centers as Amazon project surges ahead

ADAMSTOWN, Md. — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is striking an evolving tone on the state’s data center boom just two years after his administration helped clear regulatory hurdles for the industry and months after he tried to block a state study examining its potential consequences. Data centers do not get to write the rules,” Moore said during a recent appearance on “The Root” podcast. “They do not get to override local opinion. We have to make sure that the power belongs to the people.” The comments arrive as communities across Maryland grapple with the enormous electricity demands, land-use and infrastructure needs tied to a rapidly expanding industry that Moore once aggressively courted as part of his vision to make the state a technology leader. That tension is increasingly evident in Frederick County, where one of Maryland’s largest data center developments is already taking shape, and local officials have temporarily halted new applications.…