Montgomery County leaders are behind two competing bills aimed at controlling data center development. The measures come amid booming data center growth in the D.C. area in recent years.
First, a zoning text amendment seeks to limit data centers to industrial zones, put in 500-foot setbacks from homes and address concerns such as loud generators.
County Council President Natali Fani-González is among the sponsors. She described “requirements that deal with low emissions, diesel backups. Generators is a big thing with data centers. And protections for wetlands, streams, rivers.”
At-large Councilmember Evan Glass has a competing bill that’s meant to achieve some of the same goals, but in a different way. It would set up a task force to get community input and issue a report within one year.
He explained his concerns about the other bill.
“I think that puts the cart before the horse. I don’t think that the council should be drafting those rules and regulations without soliciting real input from policy experts, from residents and from the environmental community,” he said.
Fani-Gonzalez said, “We have analyzed experience in other counties and jurisdictions that have had data centers for a while, so, that’s the point of a task force. It’s already done.”
County elected leaders agree there’s concern that the county has no official definition for data centers and that legislation is needed to ensure there isn’t uncontrolled development like what has happened in Loudoun County in the past.
“I recognize that every time I’m on my phone, every time I might ask a question to ChatGPT, we’re using data centers. It is an aspect of life, but it doesn’t mean we need them all over this community,” Glass said.
Residents can weigh in on both bills. Public hearings will be held Feb. 24.
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