Howard County enacts moratorium and task force to study data‑center siting; council narrows task‑force composition and timeline

Howard County’s council voted to enact a temporary pause on new large data‑center siting while a specially constituted task force studies the sector’s infrastructure, climate and community impacts.

Sponsor Councilmember Christiana Rigby introduced Council Bill 31 as a strategic moratorium to give the county time to update regulations that have not been substantially revised since the early 1990s. The bill creates a task force charged with assessing utilities infrastructure, water resources, climate resilience, acoustic mitigation, economic development, data‑center technology and other topics and directing the county on possible zoning changes or performance standards.

Early in the debate the council approved a technical amendment ensuring existing, previously approved projects can complete necessary “red‑line” changes (for example to replace a rooftop chiller) without being subject to the moratorium’s new‑construction ban.

Councilmembers vigorously debated the task force’s composition. A successful amendment established that each council member district will nominate one member and the county executive may nominate up to six members, producing an 11‑member panel (five council‑nominated plus up to six executive nominees). Members also debated whether to set a firm cap on task‑force size versus leaving the number open; the council settled on this capped approach.

Another amendment tightened the schedule: rather than an open 18‑month window, the task force must complete work and deliver recommendations by no later than Nov. 2, 2027. Supporters said the timeline balances urgency with the need for technical study; opponents warned late changes to the bill dilute earlier advocates’ goals but said a pause with a deliberate timetable would still permit meaningful study.

Several council members stressed that the task force should include a cross‑section of technical expertise and local representation; others argued for more independent industry experts. The final language requires a public process to solicit nominees and a public hearing to receive comment on task‑force appointments.

The council voted to approve CB 31 as amended. The moratorium and task‑force framework will take effect under the county’s implementation rules and the county executive is responsible for nominating members and establishing the task force membership through public solicitation and individual council resolutions.