More than 50% of Montgomery County’s at large candidates live in Silver Spring

The upcoming primary election for Montgomery County's four at-large council seats is shaping up with a significant focus on data center development. All 17 Democratic candidates have expressed concerns regarding the issue, with most advocating for a cautious approach, including comprehensive environmental and economic assessments before issuing permits.

This debate follows County Executive Marc Elrich's recent enactment of a six-month moratorium on data center permitting in the county. Many candidates, including Fatmata Barrie, Radwan Chowdhury, Scott Goldberg, Matt Losak, Jim McNulty, Jeremiah Pope, Prabu Selvam, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Karla Silvestre, Steve Solomon, Lelia True, and Muhammad Alif Wali, support this cautious stance. They emphasize the need to evaluate impacts on energy demand, land use, and surrounding communities.

However, a segment of candidates, notably Josie Caballero and Dana Gassaway, express staunch opposition to data centers, especially without stringent environmental and labor conditions. Caballero explicitly stated opposition unless data centers use 100% green energy, employ environmentally friendly technology, and are built and operated by local union labor. Conversely, candidate Vicki Vergagni believes the decision on data centers should rest with county residents, not council members.

The discussions highlight the complex political landscape surrounding data center growth in Montgomery County, with candidates seeking to balance potential economic benefits against environmental and community impacts as voters prepare for the primary.