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Councilmember Glass introduces six‑month pause on new data center permits
Summary
Councilmember Glass introduced Bill 19‑26 to temporarily pause issuance of building permits for new data centers in Montgomery County for six months to allow study of environmental, power‑grid, and community impacts; staff clarified the pause would apply to new applications filed after the bill takes effect and a public hearing is set for June 16.
Councilmember Evan Glass introduced legislation that would impose a temporary six‑month moratorium on building permits for new data centers in Montgomery County. Glass told the council residents see a regional surge in data centers and asked the council to “hit the pause button” so officials can assess potential environmental harm, grid strain and effects on utility bills before permitting new facilities.
Glass said the region already has one of the highest concentrations of data centers in the world and cited concern about impacts to the Potomac River and local infrastructure. Council staff clarified the bill applies only to new applications filed after the ordinance takes effect. A public hearing on Bill 19‑26 is scheduled for June 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
The introduction frames the measure as a temporary evaluation period rather than an outright ban. Glass said the moratorium would allow “meaningful community engagement using industry expertise” and county analysis to determine how new data centers, if permitted, should be sited and regulated in Montgomery County.
Next steps: the bill was introduced and scheduled for public hearing; stakeholders and interested residents may submit testimony for the June 16 hearing.
