Last Update: 06/03/2026 at 5:01 AM EST
Data Center Moratorium Backlash
Coverage from Axios, E&E News by POLITICO, and others
Articles
44
Latest Article
06/01
Active Days
26
Executive Summary
Local governments in Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, and elsewhere are moving to pause, restrict, or ban new data centers as residents and officials press for rules on power demand, water use, noise, and land use. The strongest signal is a wave of moratorium legislation paired with emerging legal disputes and a few large projects still advancing under existing approvals.
Key Points
- A broad wave of local moratoriums and ban proposals now dominates the topic, especially in Maryland, Charlotte, and Hill County, Texas.
- Most actions are framed as temporary pauses for study, but Harford County is pushing a permanent prohibition and some Texas counties have already enacted yearlong freezes.
- Power demand and utility planning are recurring pressure points, with officials citing grid strain, electric bills, and in some cases adjacent power plant needs.
- Water use and environmental impacts remain central objections, alongside noise, neighborhood compatibility, and quality-of-life concerns.
- Several jurisdictions are trying to catch up with older zoning codes or by-right rules that allow data centers with limited public review.
- Large projects are still moving forward in parallel, including Johns Hopkins' Bayview expansion, Charlotte-area builds, and Hill County's Project Aquila, creating direct conflict between development momentum and local restraint.
- Legal uncertainty is rising as developers challenge moratoriums and officials worry about statutory limits on downzoning or temporary bans.
Featured Article
Hill County, Texas commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on new data-center construction in unincorporated areas after residents raised public health and public safety concerns.
Coverage Timeline: 26 Days
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Additional Articles
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Charlotte City Council considers a 150-day moratorium on new data center applications, with a May 26 hearing and June 8 vote, while studying health and water-power impacts.
Hill County, Texas commissioners voted for a yearlong moratorium on data center and power plant construction in unincorporated areas to pause approvals amid rising local opposition.
Hill County Texas approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas after residents challenged water use and grid strain impacts.
Charlotte City Council held a public hearing on a proposed 150-day moratorium after protesters opposed American Towers’ Hood Road data center expansion amid water and electricity concerns.
Charlotte City Council may start a temporary pause on new data centers as residents raise noise, water, and electricity demand concerns, with Duke Energy tracking 7.6 gigawatts in its pipeline.
RCM Hill LLC filed a federal lawsuit in Hill County Texas challenging a yearlong moratorium on data center and power plant construction enacted May 12 by county officials.
Hill County commissioners in Texas approved a one-year data center construction pause on new unincorporated-area projects after residents raised public safety, public health, water, power, and noise concerns.
RCM Hill filed a federal lawsuit in Waco, Texas against Hill County officials on Wednesday over a moratorium blocking a planned 1,235-megawatt data center.
RCM Hill filed a federal lawsuit in Waco after Hill County approved a temporary data-center moratorium affecting Project Aquila and ERCOT Batch Zero qualification.
Hill County Commissioners' Court approved a one-year moratorium on new data-center development in Texas, driven by concerns about water use and groundwater impacts.
Baltimore City Council passed a one-year moratorium on data center construction of 10 MW or more, with a nine-month impact study, for mayoral approval.
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Harford County Council in Maryland approved emergency amendments to a proposed data center ban after a June 9 hearing was scheduled.
Granbury, Texas, residents and officials oppose Project Patriot through annexation and rezoning lawsuits while Hill County imposes a one-year freeze.
Northampton County commissioners approved a 32-month data center moratorium on May 4 after resident petitioning and testimony over zoning, noise, substation, and aquifer concerns.
Harford County, Maryland council hearings in May and June will consider a moratorium and proposed permanent ban on new data center development.
Hill County, Texas implemented a one-year data center construction moratorium after residents raised water and power concerns.
Baltimore County residents testified at the Planning Board in Towson on new data center siting rules tied to a proposed 150-megawatt Woodlawn project, ahead of an Oct. 1 County Council recommendation.
Dubuque County, Iowa zoning commissioners considered recommending a future data center moratorium after residents raised water, land-use, and noise concerns at a public meeting.
Harford County council advanced emergency legislation banning data centers after a heated public hearing on Tuesday, with next steps expected June 9.
Baltimore County residents attended a Planning Board public hearing on data center expansion on Thursday after a February council moratorium.
Hill County Texas commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers in unincorporated areas after public safety and public health concerns.
Boiling Spring Lakes commissioners set a June 2 City Hall hearing to gather input on a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data centers and crypto mining operations.
Colleton County Council approved first reading of a six month data center moratorium on approvals and land use reviews in South Carolina after community opposition and a landowner lawsuit.
Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly submitted legislation to permanently ban data centers in Harford County, Maryland, after county moratorium discussions and resident concerns.
Amarillo leaders consider a temporary moratorium on large-scale data centers to evaluate water and energy impacts before approving future projects.
Rep. Nancy Mace proposes a one-year moratorium on new data centers in South Carolina as legislators debate stronger project oversight and transparency.
Citrus County approved a one-year moratorium on data center rezoning after residents opposed a Deltona Corporation proposal near Holder, Florida.
Hill County, Texas Commissioners Court voted 3-2 on a one-year moratorium pausing data center construction in unincorporated areas while public-safety and infrastructure impacts are studied.
Sid Miller proposed a temporary Texas pause on new data center development while Harlingen, Tom Green County, and Hill County consider local actions amid power and groundwater concerns.
Hill County commissioners in Texas voted 3-2 for a one-year moratorium on rural data center projects, prompted by a Provident Data Centers campus outside Hillsboro.
Nassau County, Florida commissioners advanced a proposed data center permitting moratorium to pause applications while staff review groundwater, water capacity, and grid impacts ahead of a June 8 final vote.
Harford County, Maryland officials considered emergency legislation in 2026 to permanently ban data centers, citing energy, infrastructure, noise, and water concerns.
Harford County, Maryland, officials weighed a data center zoning ban as Bill Vasilakopoulos proposed an AI energy campus on a Joppa golf course.
Baltimore City Council debates a moratorium on new data centers above 10 megawatts as Maryland funds Johns Hopkins for a $192 million Bayview ARCH expansion.
Charlotte City Council plans a May 26 public hearing and June 8 vote on a 150-day moratorium to pause new data center approvals.
Hill County Texas voted to slow data center and power-plant development while state leaders held hearings on electricity cost allocation and county authority.
Hill County commissioners voted 3-2 on a one-year pause on data center construction in unincorporated Texas areas, citing safety and health concerns.
Baltimore City Council advanced a one-year data center moratorium on pending full-council vote, targeting standards after committee discussion set a 10-megawatt threshold.
Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly announced proposed legislation to permanently prohibit data centers in Harford County, Maryland, citing energy, environmental, and water concerns.
Howard County Council in Ellicott City, Maryland considered a proposed S.M.A.R.T. Siting bill to pause new data center projects for up to 18 months.
Evan Glass and Will Jawando, seeking Montgomery County, Maryland county executive, proposed moratoriums on new data center permits amid concerns over water, air pollution, and energy costs.
Sid Miller proposes a temporary Texas moratorium on hyperscale data center development to allow studies of ERCOT grid reliability, drought water impacts, and agricultural land conversion.
Maryland Board of Public Works approved a $9 million grant for Johns Hopkins to build a 25,000-square-foot data science and computer center in East Baltimore while Baltimore City Council weighs a 10-megawatt moratorium threshold.