Howard County's data center moratorium inches closer to reality
The Howard County Council in Maryland unanimously passed a measure to enact a moratorium on new data center construction and applications. The ban, awaiting County Executive Calvin Ball's signature, aims to modernize outdated county code and establish a task force to study the impact of these facilities. It will remain in effect until November 2, 2027, or until new zoning regulations are adopted.
The Howard County Council in Maryland has unanimously approved a measure, known as the S.M.A.R.T. Siting Act, to implement a moratorium on new data center construction and development applications. This temporary ban now awaits the signature of County Executive Calvin Ball to become law.
Proposed by County Council Vice Chair Christiana Rigby, the moratorium seeks to update the county's outdated code from the 1990s and facilitate a comprehensive study into the environmental and infrastructural impacts of data centers. The measure includes the formation of a task force, whose members will be nominated by the county council and County Executive Ball, requiring "substantial experience" in areas such as utilities, climate resilience, and data center operations.
The moratorium will be in effect until November 2, 2027, or until new, specific zoning regulations for data centers are enacted. Public input was gathered at a May 18 hearing, where local students, including River High School seniors Sidaarth Karegowdra and Dhruv Dobariya, voiced support for the bill, emphasizing the need for responsible development and a robust regulatory framework in Howard County.