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Residents push county to ban hyperscale AI data centers; council says permitting pause remains
Summary
Multiple speakers urged the Prince George's County Council to ban hyperscale AI/data centers over environmental, health and surveillance concerns; councilmembers said permitting pauses and state studies are in play while county-level zoning and incentives are being reconsidered.
At a community listening session in Glenarden, several residents urged the Prince George's County Council to permanently ban hyperscale AI and data-center development, citing environmental justice, energy demand and limited local employment.
"Put your feet down and permanently ban AI data centers from the county," said Selah, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, during public comment. Selah and other speakers warned of increased energy and water demand, pollution and the potential for surveillance technologies.
Councilmembers said no finalized project has come before the council and pointed to administrative steps taken to slow permitting for sites near homes. "No proposal for a data center has come before us, so I would have to look into it to know what you're specifically talking about for a specific project," Council Chair Crystal Oriada said in response to residents' questions. Councilmember Shayla Adams Stafford, whose district borders the debated Landover Mall site, said she worked with the county executive to place a pause on permitting and that she has introduced legislation to limit siting near residential areas. "We were able to renew that pause," Adams Stafford said.
Speakers also connected data centers to other county concerns. Susan Barnett told the council she opposed proposals that she said would cut youth employment programs while allocating funds for AI surveillance in schools: "They want to add $6,000,000 for AI surveillance in schools," she said.
Council members committed to continuing review. Several said they will rely on a state study, existing moratoria and forthcoming local legislation to assess energy, zoning and community-benefit questions before any approvals move forward. Residents pressed for a permanent county ban and for any future zoning changes to include community review and environmental-health analyses.
The council did not take a vote at the listening session; members said they would follow up with more detailed policy proposals and coordination with the county executive. The county has a temporary pause on permitting in some areas and said it will wait for additional analysis and community input before any project advances.
