The Prince George’s County Council has enacted a two-year moratorium on the development of hyperscale data centers. The goal is to provide the council members with additional time to deliberate on the future of such projects within the county.
This decision followed an hour of public commentary, accompanied by approximately thirty minutes of discussion among the council members. This moratorium extends previous actions that had similar intents by the council.
During the public input segment, there was a wide range of opinions presented. Supporters and critics of the data centers debated various issues including utility rates, environmental concerns, job creation, and the overall economic impact on the region. A coalition comprising over two dozen advocates for data centers, dressed in neon green shirts and hats, attempted to influence the council with their testimonies, leaving en masse before the session concluded.
However, the substantive debate occurred among council members themselves. There were discussions about potentially shortening the duration of the moratorium, and at one point, a proposal to table the resolution for future discussions was rejected.
“There are many unresolved questions,” said council member Wala Blegay. “Having served on the qualified data center task force, I found there were still unanswered queries. For instance, how will this affect our water supply? Currently, we lack comprehensive answers.”
Council member Sydney Harrison highlighted the revenue benefits data centers could offer the county, while also acknowledging the associated trade-offs regarding health, environment, and utility resources. “I support diversifying our tax base,” Harrison stated. “Nearby jurisdictions with over 200 data centers generate more than 42% of their local tax base from these establishments. I have witnessed the construction of these facilities in close vicinity to residential and commercial areas, and the long-term ramifications of these data centers over the next two decades remain unclear.”
He emphasized that any approval for the development of new data centers must consider energy consumption and called for further discussions regarding zoning changes that would allow data centers to produce their own energy. Additionally, he advocated for establishing a community benefit task force, a practice also being adopted by other jurisdictions.
“I view this as part of negotiations with data center firms; the county should establish the regulations, not the companies,” Harrison remarked.
As it became apparent that the measure would pass, three council members chose to abstain from the vote, while council member Tim Adams registered a dissenting vote, primarily due to his objections regarding the proposed two-year duration.
As the council neared the vote, council chair Krystal Oriadha stated that all concerns would be taken into consideration in the upcoming weeks and months. Council member Shayla Adams-Stafford is drafting legislation that addresses data centers comprehensively, and the council chair, opposed to data centers, mentioned that hearings for these bills would occur later this year.
“Should we enact comprehensive legislation, it will lift the moratorium,” Oriadha explained. “The responsibility lies with us, and we still have room for dialogue with the community.”
While the moratorium may appear to signal a potential halt to future data centers, Oriadha emphasized the necessity of this pause. “For me, it’s straightforward. It makes sense to take a break while we continue discussions, rather than allowing projects to proceed that could have negative consequences,” she concluded.
Oriadha referenced a proposed data center project at the former Landover Mall site as an example of a project the county aims to prevent, labeling it as potentially harmful.
Stay updated with breaking news and daily headlines by signing up for our email newsletter here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
