After 'We Can't Drink Data' protests, Maryland county pauses new data center permits for 18 months
Montgomery County, Maryland, has enacted an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits, following public protests regarding water and power usage. This pause will allow county officials to study the impacts of data centers and develop permanent regulations. The County Council also passed a zoning measure to legally define data centers, aiming to prevent loopholes in future restrictions.
The Montgomery County Council in Maryland unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on new data center permits, extending a previous six-month pause initiated by County Executive Marc Elrich. This decision, following protests with "We Can't Drink Data" signs from residents and groups like Food & Water Watch, aims to allow officials to study the potential impacts of data centers on local water and power infrastructure before implementing permanent regulations. The moratorium will affect a proposed data center project in Dickerson and other future developments.
In conjunction with the permitting pause, the Council also passed ZTA 26-01, a zoning measure introduced by Councilmember Andrew Friedson. This measure establishes a legal definition for data centers within the county code, designed to ensure the effectiveness of future restrictions. Councilmembers Evan Glass, Will Jawando, and Dawn Luedtke emphasized that the moratorium is a strategic planning period, not a permanent ban, allowing the county to "get this right" and develop a clear framework for responsible data center development while existing facilities continue to operate.