Ridgely passes one-year moratorium on data centers
Ridgely commissioners enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers within town limits to allow for proper research into potential environmental, water, and electricity impacts. This action follows similar moratoriums passed by Federalsburg and Caroline County, spurred by public opposition to a controversial data center proposal earlier this summer.
Ridgely commissioners recently enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development within the town. The decision, proposed by Commissioner Brad Sears, aims to provide the town with time to conduct thorough research into the complex environmental considerations and potential impacts on water aquifers and electrical substations within Ridgely and the wider Caroline County region.
This move by Ridgely mirrors similar actions taken by other local governments on the Eastern Shore, including Federalsburg and Caroline County. Federalsburg council members passed a three-year moratorium on August 3, while the Caroline County Commissioners implemented a one-year moratorium for unincorporated areas on July 21. These regional moratoriums were prompted by significant public opposition to a controversial data center proposal in Federalsburg earlier this summer, where a developer reportedly owns 200 acres for a potential project, though no formal plans have been submitted.
Commissioner Sears highlighted the interconnectedness of environmental impacts, stating that considerations like aquifer water supply and electrical substations are shared across municipalities in the county. He emphasized the importance of coordination among incorporated towns and the county to address these shared challenges effectively.