Montgomery County Council Committees Reject Task Force on Data Centers Proposed by Councilmember Evan Glass
Two committees of the Montgomery County Council voted 3-2 against a task force bill proposed by Councilmember Evan Glass to study data center impacts. The committees, led by Council President Natali Fani-González, cited existing studies and a competing zoning amendment as reasons for their decision. Glass expressed disappointment, highlighting community concerns over energy prices and environmental impacts. The proposed zoning text amendment aims to restrict data center locations and impose new regulations.
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The Montgomery County Council's Economic Development and Transportation & Environment committees voted 3-2 against a bill to establish a task force that would evaluate data centers' future in the county. Councilmember Evan Glass proposed the task force, which aimed to address community concerns about energy costs, water resources, and public health risks.
However, committee members questioned the necessity of the task force, citing a competing zoning text amendment (ZTA) that would limit data center locations and establish new regulations. The ZTA work session is expected after the council completes the fiscal year 2027 budget by June 1.
The proposed task force would have included 15 members from various stakeholders and operated for a year, but the committees amended the bill to six months before rejecting it. Currently, only one hyperscale data center is proposed in the county.
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