By Steve Crane | Editor-in-chief
“[Gov. Wes] Moore’s announcement is a step in the right direction. It’s not the full leap to action Maryland needs.” - Jorge Aguilar, southern regional director with Food & Water Watch, on the governor’s announcement that he will name a task force to review and make recommendations on any new proposals for data centers in the state.
We have something old — the annual Tawes crab feast — and something new — the latest twist in the fight over data centers for your Thursday. Let’s get to it.
For reasons unknown, like spawning fish and migrating birds, politicians return to Crisfield every year for the J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, where they shake hands and pose for selfies with voters who have strapped on the feed bag. That’s particularly true in an election year, and despite threatening weather early in the day, the candidates were back Wednesday for this year’s version, as William J. Ford reports.
Before heading to Tawes, Gov. Wes Moore on Wednesday unveiled his plan to regulate data centers in the state, announcing creation of a task force of state officials that will advise local governments after reviewing data center proposals for adherence to new guidelines. Reaction was mixed among data center opponents, who said it was a step in the right direction but who are still calling for a pause or a ban on the centers. Christine Condon has that story.
Those stories, plus Prince George’s County residents giving their two cents on the proposed Sphere at National Harbor, are below, along with headlines from the week. Enjoy!
Gov. Wes Moore (D) greets and takes pictures with supporters Wednesday at the 49th annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)
By William J. Ford
Democratic congressional nominee Dan Schwartz knew exactly how much time was left in his bid to unseat Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) -- "41 days and one sleep" -- and he does not plan on spending any time away from the campaign trail between now and Nov. 3.
That included Wednesday, which was dedicated to the old-fashioned retail campaigning of handshaking and posing for selfies with voters at the J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield, an annual pilgrimage for Maryland politicians for the last 49 years.
As Schwartz was working the crowd, Harris was strolling the grounds with his wife and chatting with voters. Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox had his own tent with supporters, while Gov. Wes Moore (D) traveled with his own cheering section during an hourlong sweep through the grounds. Other notable pols included Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Treasurer Derick Davis. For decades, Tawes has been a popular destination for political leaders – especially in election years such as this one – and the general public and despite threatening skies in the morning, Wednesday was no exception.
Gov. Wes Moore announces a new executive order on data center projects Wednesday at the State House. The order establishes a state task force to examine data center proposals. (Photo by Christine Condon/Maryland Matters)
By Christine Condon
Gov. Wes Moore is commissioning a state task force to examine new data center proposals and advise local jurisdictions, who will still have final say on the projects, the governor said Wednesday. Moore said he will also advocate for the repeal of a 2020 state tax exemption for data centers in the next legislative session.
Moore’s new task force, which will be staffed by seven state agencies, will evaluate proposals based on whether they align with the state’s principles, which include protecting electricity ratepayers from cost burdens, providing sufficient environmental protections and having the support of the community, among other factors. The task force will decide whether projects are “aligned, conditionally aligned, or not aligned” with the state’s principles. It will have purview over projects that expect to consume at least 25 megawatts of electricity at their peak demand.
Data center critics, who have been calling for a statewide pause — or outright ban on the facilities, as two of his gubernatorial challengers are demanding — called Moore’s task force a step in the right direction, but said it does not go nearly far enough to address the pressing issue.
IN OTHER NEWS
Should Sphere be here?: Questions about labor protections, traffic and taxpayer costs consumed a packed listening session Tuesday night in Largo, as the Prince George’s County Council heard from the public about the proposed Sphere at National Harbor.
Food assistance keeps dropping: Almost 40,000 Marylanders lost access to food assistance over the past year, among the tens of thousands of Americans losing SNAP benefits each month, as Congress debates slowing down cuts to federal food stamps.
Testosterone for the troops: The Defense Health Agency rolled out clinical guidelines military medical providers will use to begin screening men over 30 for low testosterone each year, part of Secretary Pete Hegseth's promise of a "High T Department of War."
Immigrant detention concerns: Local officials, often barred from entering federal immigrant detention facilities, are now pressing to enforce local health and safety standards, noting that the use of private contractors makes the sites subject to state rules.
MATTERS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Health audits come to light: The Office of Inspector General for Health did almost 1,400 audits over the last four years and found more than $42 million in improper or unrecovered payments -- but those reports were only recently posted for public review.
Questions about Question 3: Roughly 4 in 10 likely voters oppose Question 3, the proposed Maryland constitutional amendment that would change the way state officials redraw congressional districts, and just 28% support it, a poll by opponents claims.
A quantum leap for College Park: State officials, University of Maryland leaders and quantum research representatives celebrated the opening of the Microsoft Quantum Research Center in the university’s Discovery District Tuesday.
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