County Council unanimously approves 18-month data center moratorium
The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits. This decision follows a previous executive order for a six-month pause and ongoing public discussion about the facilities' impacts, including water usage and noise. Atmosphere Data Centers, which is developing a campus in Dickerson, expressed disappointment and is appealing a related zoning interpretation.
The Montgomery County Council has unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on issuing new permits for data centers, a decision made during a Tuesday vote. The bill, a compromise combining proposals from Councilmembers Evan Glass and Will Jawando, seeks to provide time for community input and address concerns regarding tax policy, water usage, and noise regulations associated with data center development.
This council action follows an executive order signed in June by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, which had imposed a six-month pause on new data center permits. The move to halt development gained momentum after increased public awareness about a proposed data center campus by Atmosphere Data Centers at a former coal-fired power plant site in Dickerson.
Atmosphere Data Centers is currently appealing a zoning interpretation based on Executive Elrich's initial six-month moratorium, arguing that the executive order oversteps the council's legislative authority. Chuck McBride, CEO of Atmosphere, expressed disappointment over the council's 18-month decision, stating the company will evaluate its implications for the Dickerson project.