Harford County Council introduces bill to pause data center development after community pushback

BEL AIR, Md. — The Harford County Council is taking action to address community concerns over data center development by introducing a bill for a 90-day pause on new projects. During Tuesday's council meeting, Councilmember Jacob Bennett formally introduced the legislation, stating its purpose is to signal to potential developers that the county is not open to new data centers at this time. Councilmember Nolanda Robert confirmed that a developer has been exploring a data center at the Mountain Branch Golf Course in Joppa and indicated that local citizens are strongly against it. Community opposition has rapidly mobilized, with Bryan Cornell, organizer of the new group "Our Land, Our Home, Our Harford," noting that their Facebook page quickly grew to nearly 1,000 members. Residents filled the council chambers, many wearing green to demonstrate their unity against the proposed development, with some advocating for an extension beyond the initial 90-day pause. Councilmember Bennett expressed optimism about the unanimous support from the council members for the moratorium, highlighting it as a rare moment of agreement conducive to progress. A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers, offering residents an opportunity to voice their opinions before the pause is officially enacted.