Baltimore County Department of Planning, Data Center Study Meeting, April 23, 2026

The Baltimore County Department of Planning held a meeting on April 23, 2026, focused on a data center study, particularly examining water consumption and cooling methods used by data centers. The discussion covered various cooling technologies such as air-cooled, open loop, closed loop, and direct immersion systems, highlighting their differing water and energy usage impacts. The county reviewed water supply infrastructure, pressure zones, and wastewater discharge considerations, including the need for pretreatment and potential environmental impacts. Representatives from Loudon County shared insights on their reclaimed water system heavily utilized by data centers, and the importance of coordinating water capacity and zoning regulations to manage the growing demand. The meeting also addressed the challenges of balancing industrial water use with residential needs, the potential for infrastructure upgrades funded by data center developers, and the necessity of local approval processes beyond zoning. Future considerations included economic impacts, regional coordination, and defining data center classifications for regulatory purposes.