Terra Energy Proposes Data Center on Decommissioned Coal Plant Site in Maryland Agriculture Reserve

County Executive Marc Elrich indicated that data centers could be established in Montgomery County if done responsibly. Terra Energy has proposed building a data center and battery energy storage facility on 292 acres of a decommissioned coal plant site in Dickerson, which ceased operations in 2020.

The project has received conditional approval for a cable communications system. The facility plans to use water from the Potomac River for cooling, similar to the previous operations of the coal plant.

The submitted plans include three land bays, featuring multiple data centers, administration buildings, warehouses, and a battery energy storage system. The proposal is said to comply with local standards and aims to avoid negative impacts on the community.

Additional approvals are required before the project can proceed. Maryland legislators are studying data center impacts, and Councilmember Evan Glass plans to introduce legislation for a formal review process.