Dorchester County Council hopes to get ahead on regulating data center proposals
The Dorchester County Council is considering implementing a moratorium on data center developments and has directed staff to research the issue. Concerns about electricity, water usage, noise, and property values were raised. The council did not vote on a moratorium but expects a recommendation from the County Manager by August.
The Dorchester County Council in Maryland is exploring preemptive measures to regulate potential data center proposals, including a possible moratorium. At a recent meeting, council Vice President Mike Detmer expressed the need for a framework to evaluate projects, citing concerns about electricity supply, water consumption, noise, and property values. Although no data center has been formally proposed in Dorchester County, Detmer highlighted that a project is planned nearby in Federalsburg, close to the county line.
A resident from Church Creek urged the council to immediately enact a one-year moratorium, similar to those recently adopted by neighboring Queen Anne's and Caroline counties. However, the council chose not to vote on the moratorium directly. Instead, they instructed County Manager Jerry Jones and his staff to research how other counties are addressing the issue and to present a recommendation, potentially by August, on a suitable review process for Dorchester County.