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Data Centers in Montgomery County

A data center complex to be sited in Dickerson, MD was recently granted a provisional conditional use approval to Terra Energy for construction by the Montgomery County Office of Zoning and Administrative Appeals.

Terra Energy received this rarely used provisional approval without their submission of standardly required documents, such as a site plan. Concern was raised about how the hearing examiner could make such a determination as to the effects of the facility based upon the submitted information. In 2025, both Frederick County and Prince George’s  County had moratoriums on data center progress to allow for the implementation of appropriate regulations to govern how data centers are developed. 

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What is the status of the proposed hyperscale data center application?

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Watch here the latest webinar on data centers in Montgomery County, organized by TCM MoCo and the Climate Coalition MoCo.

Climate Coalition urges Montgomery County to enact a similar moratorium to provide an opportunity to develop a regulatory framework that will protect our environment and utility rates.

There are currently no guidelines for how data centers in Montgomery County should be developed in an environmentally sound, responsible manner. Councilmembers Balcombe, Fani Gonzalez, and Sayles sponsored Zoning Text Amendment ZTA 26-01, defining what a data center is, where it can go, and creating a limited set of zoning conditional use guidelines (see maps). The County’s own Climate Assessment states the ZTA will have “mostly indeterminate impacts related to greenhouse gas emissions except for emissions associated with electricity usage which could have major negative impacts” and they “anticipate larger negative impacts specifically to water quality and quantity”. The ZTA allows hyperscale data centers in all industrial districts in the county, regardless of proximity to neighborhoods or sensitive infrastructure such as schools or houses of worship. In addition, there is no assessment on the health impacts of data center noise, vibration and infrasound (low frequency sound below human hearing). The county clearly does not have enough information to address these issues.

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Did you know that ZTA 26-01 would allow large data centers in all industrially zoned areas – in every part of the County?

Can a Data Center be built in your neighborhood?

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Now is the time to demand the County Executive and the County Council put a pause on any new Data Center development until the County Council has had a chance to impose strong environmental and climate forward regulations that will require the data center to be an asset to the County and not a burden.

How can you get involved and be heard?

Thank you to all who sent written testimonies to MoCo Planning Board before the hearing on Feb 12th and everyone who spoke up at the council hearing on Feb 24th! 

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Next, join us testifying at the Public Hearing on Data Center Moratorium bills on June 16th! Sign up here.

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Now TAKE ACTION here to reach out to your Councilmember! 

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What else you can do:

  • Listen to the Council ECON / T&E Committee work session on March 9th where councilmembers voted 3-2 against the legislation which would establish a task force on data centers.

  • Reach out to your Council member in case you have any further comments or questions.

  • Sign up for Climate Coalition newsletters to be informed about important updates on data centers in Montgomery County!

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