County Council seeks public input on competing data center moratorium bills
Montgomery County Council is holding public hearings on two competing bills to impose a data center moratorium, one for six months and another for two years. Simultaneously, County Executive Marc Elrich has already signed an executive order enacting a six-month moratorium on building permits for new data centers. Data center development has become a key issue in the upcoming primary election for county executive.
Montgomery County, Maryland, is currently grappling with the future of data center development as the County Council prepares for public hearings on two competing moratorium bills. Councilmember Evan Glass introduced a bill proposing a six-month pause on permitting for data center projects, while Councilmember Will Jawando, co-sponsored by Councilmember Kristin Mink, countered with a bill advocating for a two-year moratorium. These legislative efforts highlight data centers as a significant issue in the upcoming June 23 primary election for county executive, featuring Glass, Jawando, and Councilmember Andrew Friedson as top contenders.
Adding to the dynamic, County Executive Marc Elrich, who is term-limited and running for a council at-large seat, recently signed an executive order implementing a six-month moratorium on building permits for new data centers. However, this executive order specifically states it does not prevent the Montgomery Planning Board from continuing to accept, consider, or approve plans for new data centers, including a recently amended conditional use application for a five-data center campus in Dickerson. The County Council's public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Stella Werner Council Office Building in Rockville.