Montgomery Council members propose data center limits

Three members of the Montgomery County Council, President Natali Fani-González, Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, and member Laurie-Anne Sayles, announced plans to introduce amendments to a data center development bill. These proposed amendments aim to strengthen environmental protections by requiring developers to submit plans demonstrating 100% clean energy procurement and minimal water usage. The new rules would apply to both current and future data center applications that have not yet received building permits. This specifically targets a controversial planned data center in Dickerson, developed by Atmosphere. Residents have expressed significant concerns regarding the environmental impact of data centers on the region's air, water, and land. Atmosphere representatives are currently reviewing the proposed amendments to understand their implications for their project.