The Montgomery County Council in Maryland unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on all large-scale data center projects, after the proposed 100-acre Dickerson project still had unresolved questions about location, operation and community safeguards. An accompanying zoning amendment defines large data centers as facilities with aggregate monthly electricity demand of at least 25 megawatts. Council members cite concerns about environmental impact and electricity costs, as some residents reported utility bills rising by as much as $800 or $900 a month over the past year. The Data Center Coalition counters that extreme weather, supply chain shocks and inflation are major drivers of higher rates, and that data centers pay for the upgrades they require. Several states, including Virginia, have introduced taxes on data centers to offset their impact on local infrastructure.
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