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Montgomery County Approves 18-Month Data Center Moratorium
Coverage from Montgomery County, WTOP News, and others
Articles
5
Days Since Update
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The Story
The Montgomery County Council approved an 18-month moratorium on data center permits, expanding on County Executive Marc Elrich's earlier six-month executive pause. It also adopted Zoning Text Amendment 26-01, which temporarily prohibits hyperscale data centers and establishes new definitions and limitations. County officials say the pause will support review of environmental, electricity-cost, quality-of-life, and community concerns before a more comprehensive framework is developed.
First Article: 07/30/26
Latest Article: 07/31/26
The Bigger Picture
Articles in this story are part of a shaping these topics.
Counties Pause Data Center Projects
Charlotte is considering a 150-day moratorium while reviewing data centers’ effects on residents, water demand, and power use.
Counties Pause Data Center Permits
Box Elder County, Utah, halted processing of most data center and related power-plant applications for 180 days.
Articles
07-29-2026
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Council approved an 18-month data center permitting moratorium and hyperscale zoning prohibition in Montgomery County, Maryland.
07-29-2026
WTOP News
Montgomery County officials approved an 18-month data center development moratorium in Maryland to review environmental, zoning, water, tax, and infrastructure impacts.
07-28-2026
Food & Water Watch
Montgomery County Council members in Maryland unanimously approved an 18-month data center moratorium and a 25-megawatt zoning limit amid local concerns about hyperscale development.
07-24-2026
Climate Coalition MoCo
On July 22, county committees advanced an 18-month data center moratorium and a zoning amendment banning data centers over 25 MW for a July 28 County Council vote.