Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers · Unincorporated Montgomery County
The county council voted 11-0 to pause new data center permits for 18 months, until early 2028 (Expedited Bill 19-26). It replaces the county executive's six-month pause. Existing data centers are not affected. The developer of the Dickerson project said the pause applies to it.
🗺️ Zoning change · Unincorporated Montgomery County
The county council passed a zoning change (ZTA 26-01) that sets a legal definition of a data center and closes loopholes. An advocacy group reports it also blocks data centers larger than 25 megawatts.
⚖️ Court case · Unincorporated Montgomery County
Atmosphere Data Centers, which wants to build in Dickerson, appealed the county executive's six-month pause to the county's zoning hearings office. The council's 18-month pause later replaced the six-month pause.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers · Unincorporated Montgomery County
County Executive Marc Elrich ordered the permits department to stop taking and processing permit applications for new data centers for six months. The council's 18-month pause replaced it in July 2026.
📌 Other · Unincorporated Montgomery County
County Executive Marc Elrich proposed data center rules: stricter limits on diesel generator pollution and noise, data centers making at least 80% of their own power, industrial zones only, and public hearings.
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