County Executive Elrich has issued an executive order pausing data center permitting for 6 months -including the Dickerson project.
Press Release
WTOP
This order gives us breathing room - but a two year moratorium (expedited bill 24-26) is still needed to craft strong regulations.
We packed the hearing room this week - now we need to pack the testimony record before it closes on June 26th.
We need your voice to support the 2 year pause - and urge that the pause is well used to engage stakeholders in a transparent cost benefit analysis that yields strong regulations and zoning laws.
There are two ways to be sure your voice is heard:
Write a Letter Here - use our quick template to send an email to all the councilmembers
Upload Written/Audio/Visual Testimony Here (the bill to reference: 24-26 and the hearing date is 6/16/2026)
Press Release
WTOP
This order gives us breathing room - but a two year moratorium (expedited bill 24-26) is still needed to craft strong regulations.
We packed the hearing room this week - now we need to pack the testimony record before it closes on June 26th.
We need your voice to support the 2 year pause - and urge that the pause is well used to engage stakeholders in a transparent cost benefit analysis that yields strong regulations and zoning laws.
There are two ways to be sure your voice is heard:
Write a Letter Here - use our quick template to send an email to all the councilmembers
Upload Written/Audio/Visual Testimony Here (the bill to reference: 24-26 and the hearing date is 6/16/2026)
Hearing Wrap Up
Thanks to all those that showed up /testified at the 6/16 hearing. You can view the video of all 80 speakers on data centers here.
Here is MCA's testimony
We've selected some choice testimony to highlight:
From Dick Thoms, a retired cooling system engineer:
"Montgomery County is being asked to permit an unregulated facility that is a massive and environmentally risky Industrial use, without the information needed to assess the risks.
In Dickerson, the developer is actively suppressing public and expert input to the permitting process by the use of unnecessary NDAs. This permit process is:
• without the benefit of expert assessment of risks,
• without the time to develop appropriate risk mitigation regulations,
• and without meaningful public input regarding the impact of the risks involved.
Further, the developer is likely unable to dictate to his client - a firm such as Amazon or Microsoft or Disney - what type of Data Center mechanical systems to use.
Given that the proposed data center project design will ultimately be published to the construction industry in order to solicit multiple bids, it is obvious that the NDAs are more about constraining the permit process than protecting proprietary design information."
From Leslie Saville, Retired MoCo Planner
"I am not an expert on data centers, but in reviewing the Dickerson application and our zoning ordinance, I can see that we are not prepared to assess and manage their negative impacts on our communities.
Issues that I see include noise impacts not captured by our noise ordinance, power usage, backup power impacts, C&O Canal user impacts (primarily noise and vibrations), and water usage. We need to thoughtfully establish conditional use standards, and create enforcement mechanisms through regulations. DPS, DEP and planning staff can provide excellent technical advice on the known negative impacts of this use. A complete fiscal analysis must be provided to Council. The costs AND the benefits should be entirely on the table for the public to see."
We want to thank our stalwart partners from the MoCo Climate Coalition, Food and Water Watch, the Democratic Socialists of America MoCo, MoCo Sierra Club and Sugarloaf Citizens Association - all working together in your interest toward the best outcome.
Here is MCA's testimony
We've selected some choice testimony to highlight:
From Dick Thoms, a retired cooling system engineer:
"Montgomery County is being asked to permit an unregulated facility that is a massive and environmentally risky Industrial use, without the information needed to assess the risks.
In Dickerson, the developer is actively suppressing public and expert input to the permitting process by the use of unnecessary NDAs. This permit process is:
• without the benefit of expert assessment of risks,
• without the time to develop appropriate risk mitigation regulations,
• and without meaningful public input regarding the impact of the risks involved.
Further, the developer is likely unable to dictate to his client - a firm such as Amazon or Microsoft or Disney - what type of Data Center mechanical systems to use.
Given that the proposed data center project design will ultimately be published to the construction industry in order to solicit multiple bids, it is obvious that the NDAs are more about constraining the permit process than protecting proprietary design information."
From Leslie Saville, Retired MoCo Planner
"I am not an expert on data centers, but in reviewing the Dickerson application and our zoning ordinance, I can see that we are not prepared to assess and manage their negative impacts on our communities.
Issues that I see include noise impacts not captured by our noise ordinance, power usage, backup power impacts, C&O Canal user impacts (primarily noise and vibrations), and water usage. We need to thoughtfully establish conditional use standards, and create enforcement mechanisms through regulations. DPS, DEP and planning staff can provide excellent technical advice on the known negative impacts of this use. A complete fiscal analysis must be provided to Council. The costs AND the benefits should be entirely on the table for the public to see."
We want to thank our stalwart partners from the MoCo Climate Coalition, Food and Water Watch, the Democratic Socialists of America MoCo, MoCo Sierra Club and Sugarloaf Citizens Association - all working together in your interest toward the best outcome.
Background: MCA, The MoCo Climate Mobilization and the MoCo Climate Coalition partnered to do a webinar on current regulations on data centers and how we can build stronger standards for this new industry. See the recording here and browse the slides here.
A look ahead to what's next on considering the Dickerson proposal and moratoriums from the MoCo Climate Coalition.
A look ahead to what's next on considering the Dickerson proposal and moratoriums from the MoCo Climate Coalition.
Perhaps you saw the CEO of Atmosphere insisted MCA "back off asap" and alleged that MCA was funded by the Chinese Communist Party. Their check must have gotten lost in the mail ;) In fact we rely exclusively on funding from local folks like you who want to see strong regulations on data centers in MoCo to protect residents and our shared resources.
This is a huge lift for our small staff of two.
We'd be honored by your tax-deductible gift. Thank You!
This is a huge lift for our small staff of two.
We'd be honored by your tax-deductible gift. Thank You!
