Montgomery County Council to take final vote on data center moratorium | NBC4 Washington
Montgomery County Council is holding a final vote on a bill to implement an 18-month moratorium on new data center construction. This pause aims to give the county time to establish criteria and rules regarding data center impacts on the power grid, environment, and noise. Several jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia have already implemented similar pauses.
The Montgomery County Council is scheduled to take a final vote today on a bill that would impose an 18-month moratorium on building permits for new data centers within the county. This proposed pause would replace an existing six-month executive order that was put in place earlier this summer.
The moratorium is intended to provide the county with additional time to develop comprehensive criteria and rules for future data center construction. Key issues under consideration include the potential impact on the power grid, environmental consequences, noise pollution, and protections for residents against rising utility bills. The move comes as data centers have become a source of controversy across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region, with several jurisdictions already implementing similar construction pauses or zoning changes. News4’s Megan McGrath reported on the significance of today's vote, emphasizing the county's effort to address concerns before allowing further development.