By Chris Madello
International Representative of the United Association of Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, and Service Techs
Maryland stands at a consequential moment for its economy and its workforce. Just weeks ago, the General Assembly made a clear and deliberate decision: it overrode the Governor’s veto of legislation directing the state to conduct a comprehensive study of the data center industry. That vote reflected a bipartisan understanding that data centers raise complex questions about energy, infrastructure, and economic development — and that Maryland should gather the facts before rushing into new policy.
Now, that careful, data-driven approach is at risk. House Bill 940 and Senate Bill 596 would impose sweeping new restrictions on data center development before the study the legislature itself authorized has even begun its work.
As the United Association (UA) International Representative for Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and D.C. as well as the UA’s representative on all data center projects worldwide, I know the importance of responsible planning, transparency, and reliability on data center projects. But I also know that acting prematurely — and layering new mandates on top of existing safeguards — threatens to derail an industry that can deliver long-term union careers, private investment, and sustained revenue for Maryland communities.
Data centers are not speculative ventures or short-term construction booms. They are large, multi-year projects that require a highly trained workforce to build, operate, and maintain. For electricians, ironworkers, pipefitters, operating engineers, and other union trades, these projects support stable employment, apprenticeship opportunities, and careers that last decades. When a data center project is canceled or diverted to another state, it isn’t just a building that disappears — it’s thousands of jobs that never materialize.
Maryland is already feeling the consequences of economic uncertainty. The state has lost tens of thousands of federal jobs over the past year and faces slower job growth and mounting fiscal pressures. In that environment, private-sector investment matters more than ever. Data centers offer Maryland a rare opportunity to expand its tax base without raising taxes on residents, while putting people to work in high-skill, high-wage jobs.
Independent analysis backs this up. A recent report by the Maryland Tech Council, prepared by Sage Policy Group, found that a typical large-scale data center project in Maryland can support thousands of construction jobs during development, hundreds of permanent jobs once operational, and millions of dollars in annual state tax revenue. The study also highlights data centers’ potential to help address Maryland’s long-term budget challenges and lagging job growth. In other words, these projects are not just good for workers — they are good for the state’s economic health.
Importantly, Maryland has not ignored the need for oversight. Lawmakers have already acted to protect ratepayers by ensuring that large energy users pay their fair share of grid costs. State and federal regulators are actively engaged in managing grid reliability and cost allocation. The study the General Assembly authorized is specifically designed to provide lawmakers with a fuller picture of data center impacts so future policy decisions can be grounded in facts, not fear.
HB 940 and SB 596 move in the opposite direction. By imposing costly and complex new requirements now, before the study is completed, these bills send a clear signal to developers: Maryland is an unpredictable place to invest. In a region where neighboring states are actively competing for the same projects, that signal matters. Capital is mobile. When projects leave Maryland, they don’t disappear — they show up in Virginia or elsewhere, along with the jobs, tax revenue, and local investment that could have benefited our communities.
Lawmakers must reject the false choice between economic growth and responsible governance. Maryland can do both. But it requires discipline and patience. The legislature already chose a study-first path when it overrode the governor’s veto. Walking away from that decision now undermines the credibility of the process and risks locking in outcomes that cannot easily be reversed.
On behalf of the thousands of plumbers, welders, pipefitters and other tradespeople in the UA, I urge lawmakers to pause, allow the data center study to be completed, and evaluate its findings before advancing new legislation. That approach respects the legislature’s own recent vote, protects workers and ratepayers, and preserves Maryland’s ability to compete for investment in a rapidly growing sector.
The stakes are too high for rushed decisions. Maryland’s workers, communities, and economy deserve policies grounded in evidence — not in haste.
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