Montgomery County divided Over competing Bills to Control data center Growth
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Amid a surge in data center progress across the D.C. area, Montgomery County, Maryland, is grappling with how to manage the rapid expansion. Two competing bills are now vying for approval,each offering a distinct approach to regulating the industry and addressing community concerns.
Montgomery County leaders recognise the increasing reliance on data centers – powering everything from smartphone use to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT – but are persistent to prevent uncontrolled development similar to what has occurred in neighboring Loudoun County.
Zoning Restrictions vs. Community Input
One proposal, a zoning text amendment, aims to directly limit where data centers can be built. It would restrict these facilities to industrial zones and mandate 500-foot setbacks from residential areas. The amendment also seeks to mitigate potential nuisances, such as noise from generators, and protect sensitive environmental areas.
County Council President Natali Fani-González, a sponsor of the amendment, emphasized the focus on environmental safeguards. She outlined “requirements that deal with low emissions, diesel backups. Generators is a big thing with data centers. And protections for wetlands, streams, rivers.”
however, At-large councilmember Evan Glass is advocating for a different strategy. His bill proposes establishing a task force to gather input from policy experts, residents, and environmental groups before any regulations are finalized.
Glass expressed concern that the zoning amendment “puts the cart before the horse,” arguing that the council should not draft rules without first soliciting broader community feedback. “I don’t think that the council should be drafting those rules and regulations without soliciting real input from policy experts, from residents and from the environmental community,” he stated.
A Familiar Approach?
Fani-González countered that the task force concept is redundant, explaining, “We have analyzed experience in other counties and jurisdictions that have had data centers for a while, so, that’s the point of a task force. It’s already done.” This suggests the current proposal is informed by best practices from other regions.
A key concern driving the legislative efforts is the lack of an official county definition for data centers. This ambiguity, officials say, has contributed to the potential for unchecked growth.
Glass acknowledged the essential role of data centers in modern life, stating, “I recognize that every time I’m on my phone, every time I might ask a question to ChatGPT, we’re using data centers. It is an aspect of life, but it doesn’t mean we need them all over this community.”
Public Input and Expanding Concerns
Residents will have the prospect to voice their opinions on both bills at public hearings scheduled for February 24.
The debate isn’t confined to Montgomery County. A similar battle is unfolding in Frederick County, Maryland, where data centers are already under construction and a proposal is being considered to allow construction on even more rural land, as reported by News4’s darcy Spencer.
The future of data center development in the region hinges on finding a balance between economic growth, community needs, and environmental protection.
