MARYLAND (WBFF) — The debate over data centers continues, as Frederick and Prince George’s Counties join the growing list of Maryland counties taking action.
While some residents believe data centers are the future and can bring economic growth and more tax revenue, others are opposed to data centers, worried about the noise, strain on resources and other quality of life issues. The Prince George’s County Council voted to approve a two-year moratorium on new data center development Tuesday after a contentious debate.
County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha said the action was intended to give county leaders and residents more time to evaluate the issue.
There are varying opinions,” she said. “What this says is let’s create space to have time to continue those conversations.”
Recently, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced a temporary pause on new data center development following a ruling from the Maryland Supreme Court. The Court determined that the County’s zoning decision to restrict data center development to an area north of Adamstown cannot appear on the ballot in the fall. The executive order will pause the acceptance and processing of new applications until December 31, after the State issues its Data Center Impact Analysis and Report.
“While the Supreme Court has ruled that the zoning ordinance cannot go on the ballot, the level of engagement and the number of residents who signed the referendum tells me that many in our community, like communities across the country, have real concerns about how data centers will affect us,” Fitzwater said. “This pause will give us time to respond to those concerns and consider the findings of the State’s report.”
Last month, the Howard County Council passed a temporary pause on new data center development in order to study in the impacts of data centers.
“We really need to update our outdated regulations that were last, really put in around 1993. So this is not just a pause to say hold on calamity, it’s actually a pause to make meaningful recommendations and create meaningful change,” said the bill’s sponsor, Councilmember Christiana Rigby.
Similar steps and conversations have been taken in Baltimore County and Baltimore City as well.
Harford County has taken the strongest measures so far, becoming the first County in Maryland to ban data centers.
“We’ve done our homework, we looked at this very carefully, and we were just not able to both protect the citizens and accommodate these data centers,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said.
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