Montgomery County council to vote on data center moratorium
Montgomery County, Maryland, is considering an 18-month moratorium on new data center development, with the county council expected to vote on Tuesday. The proposed pause aims to address concerns about energy and water usage, sound impacts, and utility bills. Additionally, a Zoning Text Amendment is planned to effectively ban hyperscale data centers across the county until new legislative standards are established.
Montgomery County, Maryland, is currently debating a proposed 18-month moratorium on new data center construction, with the full county council expected to vote on Tuesday. Councilmember Kristen Mink, a proponent of the pause, emphasized the need to address the significant negative impacts observed in other communities, including rising utility bills, noise pollution, environmental damage, and water quality issues. She highlighted the importance of establishing robust guardrails for air quality, water quality, and sound impacts, while also ensuring data centers pay their fair share to prevent residents from bearing the financial burden. Mink expressed hope that the moratorium would pass unanimously.
Beyond the moratorium, Councilmember Mink also announced plans to pass a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) that would define hyperscale data centers and effectively ban their construction across all zones in Montgomery County. This ban would remain in effect until new legislation is drafted and approved, requiring developers to affirmatively prove the benefits and safety of their projects. Mink stressed the importance of continued community engagement to ensure any future standards for data center development are exceptionally high. She noted that Montgomery County is one of several communities nationwide, and within the DMV region, considering such restrictions, reflecting a growing awareness of the risks associated with large-scale data center expansion.