Montgomery County committee pushes forward 18-month pause on new data centers
A Montgomery County Council committee has unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits. This pause will allow the county to develop new regulations and zoning requirements for the industry. The decision comes amid resident concerns about data centers' impact on electricity demand, water consumption, and the environment.
The Montgomery County Council's Economic Development Committee in Rockville, Maryland, has unanimously approved a temporary 18-month moratorium on new data center permits. This decision was made to allow county officials ample time to study and implement new regulations and zoning requirements for the rapidly expanding data center industry.
The proposal gained traction amidst ongoing concerns from local residents regarding the environmental and community impacts of data centers. During the committee meeting, attendees expressed worries about increased electricity demand, significant water consumption, and potential noise pollution affecting property values. Resident Sue Wheaton, for instance, voiced satisfaction with the 18-month pause, hoping Montgomery County can learn from Virginia's experiences.
Concurrently, the county’s Planning, Housing and Parks Committee also advanced a definition for "large data centers," classifying them as buildings requiring at least 25 megawatts of monthly electricity. While some residents highlighted the substantial tax revenues data centers bring, as seen in Loudoun County, Virginia, the overarching sentiment at the committee level favored a pause for deeper consideration.
Both the proposed moratorium and the large data center definition are scheduled for a vote before the full Montgomery County Council on Tuesday.