The cluster of 5 data centers conceptually approved in Dickerson will use:
- A Gigawatt of power from the grid (750,000 homes)
- Up to 2 million gallons of the Potomac per day
- A 1.2 Gigawatt equivalent of dirty diesel generators
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And read on for the details.
Councilmember Balcombe joined Kojo on the Politics Hour to discuss data centers in Montgomery County and the ZTA she is co-sponsoring (26-01). She acknowledged that the ZTA does not have any parameters about energy. She seemed to be passing the responsibility to consumers to stop using data and AI instead of taking responsibility for regulating a commercial business with huge impacts on residents saying, "we all use data". Finally, she said that data center construction is "absolutely" a viable way to fund the county - anticipating 50 Million in tax revenues from the Dickerson project.
Back in 2024, owner of the former PEPCO coal plant property Terra Energy secured conceptual approval for a cluster of 5 data centers on land zoned heavy industrial along the Potomac River. This conceptual approval was given under zoning meant for "cable communications" because there is no zoning in Montgomery County then or today that governs data centers. Here are the questions we put to the Planning department about how that works. The conceptual conditional permit review was conducted without legally required components, including site plans.
Residents want, and are entitled to, more information. How much water and power will these plants use? What about noise and air quality from backup generators?
We understand that Atmosphere, the developer of a 5 data center complex proposed on 110 acres in Dickerson, has submitted an application to modify the conceptual approval to the Montgomery County Planning Department. The application is not yet available to the public. Here is our best effort to answer the many good questions from the public (with links to far more info) .
Residents want, and are entitled to, more information. How much water and power will these plants use? What about noise and air quality from backup generators?
We understand that Atmosphere, the developer of a 5 data center complex proposed on 110 acres in Dickerson, has submitted an application to modify the conceptual approval to the Montgomery County Planning Department. The application is not yet available to the public. Here is our best effort to answer the many good questions from the public (with links to far more info) .
The property sits along the C+O Canal Towpath and will use the Potomac for 100% of cooling (shown here as it's former use as a PEPCO power plant)
Water - How Much? From where? Then What?
- It is no secret that data centers use a lot of potable water for dissipating the heat produced from 24/7 computing processes. The Dickerson development will use 100% of it's cooling water from the Potomac. (WAMU)
- Atmosphere maintains they don't use any water in their innovative new system (video) they refer to as "closed loop". Details about how this works have been requested but the response is that the information is proprietary and subject to non-disclosure agreements.
- In September 2025, Atmosphere applied to the MDE to withdraw up to 2 Million Gallons of water per day from the Potomac. The Potomac region has suffered significant drought cycles over the last several years and the regional authorities forecast challenges - due in part to climate change - for the Potomac River to meet consumer demand.
- There has been concern about the temperature differential between warmer discharge water from the site and cooler river water and the impact on aquatic life. Questions related to how the cooling system will not discharge water at elevated temperature have not been addressed. However, their lawyer's testimony at the planning board says the water will be returned at the ambient air temperature. That could be a 20 degree difference. Today the high is 55F in Dickerson and the River is 33F.
How much is a Gigawatt? Half the power output of the Hoover Dam
Power- How Much? From Where? Who pays?
- Though their website says this project will be a 300MW project. This press release and this video say Dickerson will be a 1 Gigawatt project. For prospective - according to the Department of Energy that is:
>half a Hoover Dam
>294 utility scale wind turbines
>1.8 million Solar Panels
>750,000 homes - Atmosphere says they are tapping into nuclear power for the Dickerson project in this video. Their fact sheet says they will be using power from the existing First Energy lines bordering the site. In this area First Energy is Potomac Edison. Here is their power mix. 44% of the power comes from Nuclear - but 14% is coal and 44% is gas. Atmosphere discusses deploying small nuclear reactors to power their facilities in the future.
- If they are somehow getting to pick and choose the source of their power - the use of 1 Gigawatt of cleaner nuclear power is a gigawatt that will not be devoted to decreasing carbon emissions in our region to meet climate goals. This may prompt greater reliance on more polluting sources like more coal and gas. Reuters reports "AI data centers are forcing dirty ‘peaker’ power plants back into service" From their fact sheet comparing the data center use favorably with the PEPCO coal plant that was there - this facility will just keep more coal plants from closing elsewhere.
Diesel generators will be used to back up 1 Gigawatt of power - with testing required monthly
What About Backup Power?
Data Centers need consistent power 24/7 even when the grid fails. Unfortunately, most of the time this is provided by dirty diesel backup generators that send nitrous oxide and particulate matter into the air.
According to Atmosphere's own fact sheet - though they claim to be industry innovators, Atmosphere will use diesel generator for backup power. It also says that they will only be turned on "periodically". The industry standard established by the National Fire Protection Association calls for running data center generators monthly to prevent failures and fires when the generators are needed.
Emergency generators can run up to 100 hours for testing per year and unlimited hours in emergency situations under EPA rules. Recently, the Trump Administration ordered that data centers use exclusively backup generators for winter weather.
How many generators? The industry rule of thumb is 20% above the full power needs of the facility - so 1.2 Gigawatts of power (which again is over 750,000 homes and enough to power a DeLorean through time in Back to the Future) being turned on for testing monthly.
Because of Governor Moore's SB474 that passed in 2024, data centers can now use as many generators as they need, having waived the regulations and public oversight required for diesel generators over 2MW.
It should also be mentioned that the fact sheet talks about the 12 acre BESS battery backup development adjacent to the Atmosphere project - Atmosphere in fact has no access to this power supply - it is owned and operated separately.
If you can, please consider testifying - either in person or online at the ZTA public hearing on February 24th. Sign up here before 2pm on the 23rd.
| What Now? Please personalize a letter to the County Council and Executive to call for the zoning change and guidelines to be fully and factually informed and crafted. This is the only way the County can facilitate data centers while meeting the imperative to protect public health, welfare and our shared resources. |  Montgomery County's Motto - "Guard Well" The current efforts at regulating data centers do not protect residents and our resources. |
Thanks so much for reading to the end - this is complex stuff but we know we have clever supporters that want to get all the information as Montgomery County wrestles with how this new use fits with our county's commitments to resource protection and climate protection. It was lonely being the only ones in the hearing room when conceptual approval was granted for these facilities back in 2024. This issue needs all of us and we are so thankful for everyone jumping in. If you can support our continued advocacy - please consider making a tax-deductible gift to MCA - and thanks!
