Annapolis, MD — Yesterday, the Senate passed the Utility RELIEF Act with provisions that incentivize the buildout of dangerous methane gas and nuclear energy for AI data centers. The bill also calls for a study to determine 50 new sites for such energy generation across the state. The House passed a related version of the Utility RELIEF Act in mid-March.

Governor Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk have heavily promoted the bill. The legislation is among a handful of bills proposed across the country that seek to court data center developers with “Bring Your Own Clean Energy” (BYONCE) policies. The Utility Relief Act would encourage dangerous, water-intensive nuclear energy development, which is considered a clean energy source in Maryland.

Food & Water Watch Southern Regional Director Jorge Aguilar issued the following statement in response: 
“Moore’s Utility RELIEF Act is nothing more than a shameless giveaway to Big Tech and energy companies that want to build AI data centers in Maryland. It is a phony bill that will do very little to help Marylanders struggling with high energy bills. The bottom line is there is nothing clean or affordable about expanding gas and nuclear plants to power AI data centers. 

“State lawmakers need to dump this sham concept they’ve termed BYONCE that insinuates data centers will bring in new ‘clean energy.’ No community in Maryland should have a new nuclear reactor in their neighborhood. It’s time for a data center moratorium — now.”