As counties put a pause on data centers, experts suggest a path forward
Prince George's County, Maryland, has enacted a two-year moratorium on data center development following significant resident opposition, particularly to a proposed project in Landover. Local officials are debating whether to ban data centers entirely or implement comprehensive regulations, with experts suggesting community benefits agreements as a path forward. Other counties in Maryland, like Montgomery, Howard, Frederick, and Baltimore, have also implemented pauses.
Prince George's County, Maryland, has enacted a two-year moratorium on data center development, giving officials time to address resident concerns and formulate a regulatory framework. This decision follows similar pauses in Montgomery, Howard, Frederick, and Baltimore counties in Maryland, as local governments nationwide grapple with the impacts of data center growth.
Residents, led by figures like Taylor Frazier McCollum, have actively opposed data center projects, citing environmental concerns such as light and noise pollution, and excessive energy and water use. McCollum initiated a petition with over 24,000 signatures against a data center in Landover, advocating for a complete ban rather than temporary measures or community benefit agreements, which she believes may lack enforcement.
Experts, including Christopher Jordan from the National League of Cities and Vincent Nolette from Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, suggest that local governments have significant leverage to negotiate community benefits agreements (CBAs) with developers. These legally enforceable contracts can mitigate adverse impacts and secure benefits for communities, as seen in places like Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Microsoft's operations in West Des Moines, Iowa, were also cited as an example of a good corporate citizen contributing to community development without a specific CBA.
The Prince George's County Council is currently considering options ranging from a full ban, supported by Council Chair Krystal Oriadha, to comprehensive legislation regulating site selection, infrastructure capacity, and zoning, championed by Council member Shayla Adams-Stafford. County Executive Aisha Braveboy supports data centers if planned responsibly. The county's Qualified Data Center Task Force recommended combining statutory baselines with flexible, project-specific CBAs, a recommendation that has yet to result in enacted legislation beyond the moratorium.