Overview
- The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved an 18‑month moratorium and a zoning text amendment that defines and bars new data centers that would use at least 25 megawatts and lack existing building permits.
- The council’s action directly affects Atmosphere Data Centers’ proposed 300‑megawatt Dickerson campus, which the company said it is evaluating after calling the vote disappointing.
- Mississauga city council approved a one‑year moratorium this week and directed staff to draft an interim control bylaw and an application review protocol for hyperscale AI data center proposals.
- New York’s one‑year statewide pause remains in force while Governor Kathy Hochul convenes roundtables and agency reviews to craft a template for statewide standards on large facilities.
- State and regional studies and long lead times for power equipment mean regulators are weighing grid upgrades, water use limits, noise rules and developer payments as municipalities consider similar pauses and voters debate the issue in local elections.