Three jurisdictions in Maryland have now paused or plan to pause data center development as more information is collected on the potential environmental impacts on residential communities.
Some residents held a rally against data centers outside the Prince George’s County government building in Largo earlier this week. They held up signs that read “Ban data centers in MD” and “Silence is not an option.”
“Say no data center, no data data center,” one demonstrator sang into a mic.
The rally happened as Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha introduced legislation that would put a moratorium on new data center development for two years. A six-month data center ban in the county has expired.
“The people organized and the people came together to ban data centers,” the demonstrator said to applause and cheers.
“We are not ready to make this type of decision. There are so many unknowns around consequences when it comes to the environmental impacts and health impacts for the residents and the cost,” Oriadha told News4.
Supporters of data centers also showed up to the rally. They wore orange t-shirts with the message: “Data centers are our future.”
“Is there an ask that the community can ask for by bringing in this into the community? What can we do about it? How does it work?” said Ursula Franklin, who is in favor of data centers.
The vote on the proposed two-year moratorium in Prince George’s County is expected to happen Tuesday. Oriadha said she doesn’t expect it to be unanimous, but she believes she has enough votes for it to pass.
In Frederick County, Maryland, leaders are putting a six-month pause on new data center applications.
“It is clear that the matter of data center development has divided our community,” Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said on July 1.
The executive order came a day after the Supreme Court of Maryland rejected a petition signed by more than 20,000 residents that would have sent the question of data center development in Frederick County directly to voters through a referendum. A state report on data center energy, environmental and financial impacts is expected in September.
“I hear you. That’s why earlier today I signed an executive order to pause new data center development while the state completes its data center impact analysis and report,” Fitzwater said.
Elizabeth Bauer with the Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee led the petition drive for the referendum.
“I’m very happy she has done this. It’s a push in the right direction. I don’t necessarily believe in her sincerity in this,” Bauer told News4.
While Bauer is pleased to have the data center pause, she said she wishes it would have come sooner. She’s said she’s now focusing her energy on electing candidates who are opposed to data center development.
“Keep in mind that the referendum process was initially started to give the citizens back their voice. Because we’ve spent about five years in front of our county council trying to get them to listen to us and they didn’t,” she said.
In June, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced a six-month moratorium on data center permitting, which includes a potential data center at the decommissioned power plant in Dickerson.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/ZUygimJ
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