PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY — The Prince George's County Council passed a two-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development on July 7, 2026. The council's decision followed nearly an hour of public input and about half an hour of discussion among council members.

Three council members abstained from voting on the moratorium. Council member Tim Adams voted against the measure, primarily citing the two-year duration as his reason. The Prince George's Chamber of Commerce had earlier suggested limiting the moratorium to six months.

During the discussion, Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha stated that the moratorium could be lifted if comprehensive legislation governing data center development is passed. "If we pass comprehensive legislation, it lifts the moratorium. The onus is on us, and the onus is that we can still have that conversation with the community," Oriadha said. "To me, it was simple. It makes sense to pause it while we continue to have those conversations, not let it lapse, so projects can move forward that are harmful."

Council member Wala Blegay raised concerns about the impact of data centers. "There are too many unanswered questions," Blegay said. "I did serve on the qualified data center task force, and what I found from it was unanswered questions. How does it impact our water? We don't know. We don't have all of the answers."

Council member Sydney Harrison expressed support for diversifying the tax base but also noted that the long-term impacts of data centers have not been fully understood. "I am a proponent of diversifying our tax base," Harrison said. "Neighboring jurisdictions with over 200 data centers derive more than 42% of their local tax base from these facilities. The long-term impacts of these data centers, particularly over the next two decades, have not been fully vetted or understood yet." Harrison also stated, "I believe this is part of the negotiation with the data center companies, and I believe the county sets the rules, not the data center companies."

Public testimony before the vote included arguments regarding utility rates, potential environmental damage, job creation, and economic impact. A coalition of more than two dozen data center supporters attended the hearing wearing neon green shirts and hats but left before the proceedings concluded. The council rejected a proposal to hold the resolution for additional discussion.

Council member Shayla Adams-Stafford is currently working on proposed legislation to address data center development. The moratorium is an extension of previous actions by the Prince George's County Council concerning data center development.

Why It Matters

The two-year moratorium impacts future hyperscale data center construction in Prince George's County. The council's decision creates a period for further legislative action, as comprehensive legislation could lift the moratorium before the two years expire. The debate involved concerns about potential environmental effects, utility rates, and the economic benefits associated with data centers, including their contribution to the local tax base.