Chamber Chat: Data Centers Coming to the Eastern Shore?

SALISBURY, Md. – In this week’s Chamber Chat, WMDT’s John Trout and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers discuss the pros and cons of data centers — including whether we’ll be seeing one on the Eastern Shore.

Bill tells WMDT that part of the appeal of data centers to communities is the potential economic benefits they can bring.

“Data centers generate significant property tax revenue, create construction jobs during development, and provide long-term careers in maintenance, security, and IT,” Bill argues. “They can also drive investments in broadband, electric infrastructure, and the technology needed to support AI, cloud computing, healthcare, finance, and other growing industries.”

Yet, many communities are hesitating to welcome data centers to their towns due to the associated high usage of water and electricity, putting pressure on local utilities to potentially rise residential electric rates. Further, there are concerns surrounding environmental impacts, increased traffic during construction, noise from operations, and questions about land use and where these facilities should be located.

“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer,” Bill says. “Before moving forward, local governments need to be transparent, engage residents early, and carefully weigh the economic opportunities against the long-term impacts.”

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