Montgomery County Executive halts data center permit applications for six months | The Locally Times
Executive Order 12-26 freezes all new data center permit applications through December 12, 2026.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed an executive order on June 12, 2026, that stops the Department of Permitting Services from accepting or processing new data center permit applications. The moratorium lasts for six months, ending December 12, 2026, unless the County Council adopts permanent Zoning Text Amendments, which are local laws governing land use, before that date. ## Permit Impact The order directs the Department of Permitting Services to stop considering new proposals. This includes the data center project proposed for the site of the decommissioned power plant in Dickerson. The county requires this time to create a legislative framework for industrial tech development. ## Infrastructure and Regulatory Concerns The June 12, 2026, news release from the Office of the County Executive states that data centers require high energy consumption and water usage for cooling systems. The order also cites potential noise impacts on residential communities as a factor for the pause. The county intends to develop rules that address grid strain, potential brownouts, and environmental degradation. The state of Maryland is conducting an assessment of data center impacts, which is scheduled for completion by September 1, 2026. Councilmember Will Jawando introduced a separate moratorium bill last month that included the Dickerson project. Councilmember Jawando requested that the County Executive take action to ensure the pause covered all proposed projects, including the Dickerson site. The record does not contain a public response from Council Member Glass regarding the executive order as of June 14, 2026. ## Resident Impact The moratorium prevents new industrial development for six months while the county reviews zoning rules. This pause aims to protect local property values and prevent infrastructure strain on electricity and water supplies for existing homes. The county government has held forums to gather resident feedback, and the County Council is currently considering permanent zoning rules. ## Key Questions **Does this order permanently ban all data centers in Montgomery County?** No, the executive order is a temporary six-month moratorium intended to create time for the county to establish rules for data center development. **What happens to the proposed data center at the Dickerson power plant?** All new permit applications, including the proposal for the decommissioned power plant in Dickerson, are paused under the executive order until December 12, 2026, or until the County Council adopts permanent Zoning Text Amendments. **When will the moratorium end?** The pause is scheduled to last for six months, but it may end sooner if the County Council adopts permanent Zoning Text Amendments governing data center use.