Elrich Signs Executive Order Pausing Data Center Permits

County Executive Marc Elrich signed an Executive Order on June 12, 2026, directing the Department of Permitting Services to immediately halt the acceptance, processing, and consideration of permit applications for new data centers in Montgomery County. The six-month moratorium covers all proposed projects, including a potential data center at the decommissioned Dickerson power plant site. The moratorium may end sooner if the County Council adopts permanent Zoning Text Amendments governing data center use.