Anne Arundel County opts for 15-month data center moratorium over outright ban

The Anne Arundel County Council unanimously voted to implement a 15-month moratorium on new data center development across the county, diverging from an initial proposal for an outright ban. This temporary measure, introduced by council member Nathan Volke, will not affect existing data centers or their expansions, including facilities like the Sandy Farms Data Center in Severn and Microsoft's campus in Annapolis Junction Business Park. The legislation also establishes a work study group tasked with researching best practices in other jurisdictions and making recommendations for future data center legislation to county officials.

The decision followed pushback on the original ban proposal from advocates of Fort George G. Meade, the state's largest employer, who feared it would hinder the region's defense contractors and cybersecurity industry. Anne Arundel now joins other Maryland counties, including Howard, Prince George's, and Calvert, in enacting a temporary ban for further study, rather than an outright prohibition like Harford County.

Public comments highlighted residents' concerns regarding data centers' energy demands, water usage, noise, and potential tax breaks for developers, with Brenda Cintron of Hanover and Lauren Gygax of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network supporting the moratorium. Conversely, Kaitlin Monaghan, Microsoft's director of government affairs, voiced concerns about the moratorium stifling future phases of development for their Annapolis Junction campus, despite supporting a task force for responsible regulation. Benjamin Wechsler of YBS Law also advocated for a shorter, more flexible ban on behalf of data center clients. Council members Julie Hummer, Lisa Rodvien, and Pete Smith also weighed in on the county's dual priorities of economic development and environmental impact.