PHED committee approves data-center task force, holds separate study resolution

PHED committee members voted on March 20 to approve CR-16 (draft 2), creating a qualified data center task force to study community impacts, benefits and revenue potential of data center development in Prince George’s County, and placed a separate, narrower study resolution (CR-14) on indefinite hold.

The task force resolution passed unanimously, 4-0, after committee members adopted amendments that change appointment authority and clarify participating county agencies and designees. Council members who sponsored or cosponsored the measure include Councilmembers Burrows, Oriota, Ivy and Watson, according to committee discussion.

Committee members and planning staff said the draft 2 version folds the scope of the CR-14 study into the broader task force and adds a cross-section of public- and private-sector stakeholders to review transportation, energy and water demand, fiscal effects and other community impacts. Director Lakisha Hall and commission staff told the committee the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) would treat CR-14 as redundant if CR-16 proceeds.

During discussion, sponsors and staff described draft 2 as a consolidated approach. Councilmember Burrows said draft 2 incorporates prior amendments. The committee approved modest wording changes on the floor: the council chair (not the vice chair) will make the task-force appointments; the county executive (or the executive’s designee) will appoint an executive branch representative; and the department name for permitting was updated to reference the county’s permitting, inspections and enforcement office. The committee also discussed chair/vice-chair selection for the task force to allow flexibility in who leads the panel.

Madam Clerk called the roll after the motion and amendments. The vote tally recorded at the committee was: Chair DeNoga — aye; Councilmember Hawkins — aye; Vice Chair Ivy — aye; Councilmember Olson — aye. The motion carried 4-0. The committee then voted, also 4-0, to hold CR-14 indefinitely.

Committee staff said an RFP is already under way to support public engagement and the research output for the task force; a task-force timeline discussed at the meeting was described as “aggressive.” Sponsors and staff indicated the task force will include county agency representatives (including the county permitting/inspections office and the public utilities regulator), higher-education and industry representatives, municipal officials and local economic-development stakeholders.

What happens next: With committee approval, CR-16 (draft 2) moves forward in the council process with the amendments adopted in PHED; CR-14 will not advance while the task force proceeds. The task force’s membership list and final scope will be set as appointments are made by the chair and the county executive’s office.

Votes at a glance - CR-16 (draft 2) — Qualified data center task force. Motion carried 4-0 (Chair DeNoga, Councilmembers Hawkins, Ivy, Olson — ayes). Motion and amendments adopted on March 20, 2025. - CR-14 — Data center study. Motion to hold indefinitely carried 4-0.

Speakers quoted in this article are recorded in the committee transcript and include Director Lakisha Hall and Councilmembers Burrows, Ivy, Hawkins and Olson. The article does not attribute statements that were not clearly tied to a single speaker in the record.

The committee did not vote on any regulatory changes to data-center siting in this session; the actions were limited to study and task-force formation.