Montgomery County Councilmember Introduces Bill to Halt Data Center Permits

Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass (D-At-large) has introduced a bill to implement a six-month moratorium on data center development permits, citing urgent environmental concerns and potential impacts on utility costs. The proposed pause would prevent the county's Department of Permitting from accepting, reviewing, or issuing building or grading permits for data centers for half a year. Significantly, Glass intends for the moratorium to apply retroactively, affecting projects already in the pipeline, including a 360-megawatt campus planned by California-based Atmosphere Data Centers in Dickerson, which is currently undergoing review for an amended conditional use application. Atmosphere Data Centers CEO Chuck McBride acknowledged the proposed moratorium in a statement, emphasizing the company's commitment to collaborating with the county and stakeholders on responsible data center development. County Executive Marc Elrich (D) expressed openness to a temporary moratorium to allow the council to develop regulations but indicated he would prefer a different approach and a quicker resolution. The issue has become a point of contention among candidates vying to succeed Elrich, with some councilmembers supporting a moratorium. Glass's bill is the latest effort to regulate data center development in Montgomery County. Council President Natali Fani-González (D-Dist. 6), Vice President Marilyn Balcombe (D-Dist. 26), and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles (D-At-large) previously introduced a separate zoning text amendment to limit where data centers can be built. This amendment includes provisions requiring data centers using over 20 megawatts to operate on 100% carbon-free energy or use renewable energy certificates, and prohibits the use of potable water for cooling. These amendments are also designed to apply retroactively to the Dickerson project. A public hearing on Glass's moratorium proposal is scheduled for June 16.