Wicomico, Dorchester counties weigh pause on data center development
Wicomico and Dorchester counties in Maryland are considering one-year moratoriums on data center development. These pauses would allow local governments to study the potential impacts on infrastructure, land use, and natural resources, following a similar decision in nearby Federalsburg. Public hearings are expected in the coming months.
Leaders in Wicomico and Dorchester counties, Maryland, are discussing proposed one-year moratoriums on data center development. These discussions come shortly after Federalsburg, a nearby town, approved a three-year moratorium on such facilities due to local concerns.
Both counties held meetings on Tuesday to deliberate the temporary pauses, which would give local governments crucial time to assess the potential impacts data centers could have on local infrastructure, land use, and natural resources. Wicomico County Council member Josh Hastings emphasized the need for preparedness, particularly regarding energy, water quality, and water use, citing Northern Virginia's experience as a data center hub. The county also aims to define what constitutes a data center and review an upcoming statewide report on data center impacts.
In Dorchester County, commissioners are expected to introduce a resolution for a similar one-year moratorium, which would temporarily prohibit permit requests and zoning changes for data center construction in unincorporated areas. County Council President Lenny Pfeffer stated that concerns arose after observing the situation in Federalsburg, and staff recommended a pause to understand the potential strain on infrastructure and personal wells from data center demands. Pfeffer stressed that the moratorium is not an outright rejection of technology but a move to make informed decisions.
Both counties plan to hold public hearings in the coming months, with Dorchester County expecting theirs in mid-to-late August, allowing residents to weigh in before any formal approval. Residents from Parsonsburg in Wicomico County and Linkwood in Dorchester County expressed support for the counties taking their time to research and plan.