Montgomery County pauses new data centers for 18 months
The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted to enact an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits, following extensive public pressure from residents and advocacy groups. This pause allows the county to study the environmental impacts, particularly concerning water and power usage, and develop long-term regulations. The Council also approved a bill defining what legally constitutes a data center.
The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted to implement an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits on Tuesday, following weeks of sustained public pressure from local residents and advocacy organizations. The decision allows the county to temporarily halt new data center development, including a proposed project in Dickerson, while it investigates the industry's impacts.
During the vote, the Council also approved ZTA 26-01, a zoning bill sponsored by Councilmember Andrew Friedson, which establishes a legal definition for data centers within the county, aiming to prevent projects from circumventing new regulations. Subsequently, members approved Expedited Bill 19-26, the 18-month moratorium, sponsored by Councilmember Evan Glass and supported by Councilmember Will Jawando and Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe. Councilmember Glass emphasized the need for the pause to ensure the county's policy is robust and appropriate.
The packed hearing room reflected weeks of community concern, with groups like Food & Water Watch advocating against data centers due to their substantial water and power consumption. Protesters displayed signs such as “Stop Data Centers” and “We Can’t Drink Data,” highlighting environmental worries. This council vote followed an earlier six-month permitting pause initiated by County Executive Marc Elrich.
Councilmember Dawn Luedtke clarified that the moratorium, which is set to expire in early 2028, will not affect existing data centers but rather aims to establish “guardrails” for future development. The 18-month period provides the county with crucial time to conduct studies on data center impacts and to formulate comprehensive long-term regulations, in conjunction with a state-level review.