New map offers free and easy-to-use resource for advocates and communities to follow data center development in Maryland
For Immediate Release – October 1, 2026
Contact Lisa Goodnight at [email protected] or 301-450-1478, or Vince Robinson at [email protected] 301-450-1458
CHEVY CHASE, MD – As questions and concerns around the environmental impacts of data centers grow, Nature Forward has launched a free tool to help Marylanders better understand the state’s data center landscape and kickstart a new round of advocacy.
With several data center campuses proposed throughout Maryland, Nature Forward’s new Data Center Map allows the public to track developments and better understand where projects stand in Maryland.
“In one snapshot, you can see the total megawatt demand of hyperscale data centers in Maryland,” said Angie McCarthy, Nature Forward’s Clean Energy Campaign Manager.
McCarthy expects the resource to see widespread use amid mounting concerns about the strain data centers are placing on people and the natural world.
“There has not been a time where I have engaged with professionals and advocates alike without someone asking me if there is a map of the data center landscape,” she said.
Nature Forward’s map shows which Maryland counties have a moratorium on data center development and which do not, along with information about permitting and site plans. Some counties without data centers have enacted moratoriums on data center development.
“Having a statewide map tells us how communities across Maryland are responding to the industry, even ahead of developer interest,” she said.
The resource comes as Marylanders and state officials grapple with questions about sustainable data center development. Last week, Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order: “Responsible Data Center Development in Maryland: Protecting Ratepayers, Empowering Communities, and Ensuring Transparency and Accountability.”
Nature Forward called the executive order a good first step but urged a pause on new data center development until the General Assembly establishes codified regulations.
As the state considers how to respond to the booming data center industry, Nature Forward hopes the new mapping tool will give Marylanders a clearer picture of how to organize both locally and statewide.
“This map is part of Nature Forward’s broader effort to put communities first and make sure people have a voice in how data center development will unfold,” McCarthy said.
About Nature Forward:
Throughout its history, Nature Forward, first established in 1897 as the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia, has championed nature for all by playing a pivotal role in conserving our region’s iconic natural places from development, including the C&O Canal, Dyke Marsh, and, most recently, Ten Mile Creek. Past member Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, is credited with launching the now-global environmental movement. Nature Forward’s nature experts provide hundreds of opportunities each year for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy, learn about, and protect the environment.