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  "path": "/news/montgomery-county-pausing-data-center-permits-6-months",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-12T22:04:03.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.fox5dc.com",
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    "Montgomery County residents push back on data center proposal"
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  "textContent": "Montgomery County leaders announced a months-long moratorium on permitting for new data centers throughout the county on Friday.\n\nCounty Executive Marc Elrich signed an executive order on Friday that directs the Department of Permitting Services to stop accepting, processing and considering permit applications for new data centers.\n\n**PREVIOUS COVERAGE:** Montgomery County residents push back on data center proposal\n\nThe moratorium goes into effect immediately, and applies to new permits as well as projects that have already been proposed, like the prospective data center at a decommissioned power plant in Dickerson.\n\nElrich said that the moratorium is meant to give county officials time to set clear rules for data centers in the region.\n\n\"We've seen too many examples in government where development outpaces policy,\" Elrich said. \"The responsible approach is to establish the rules, understand the impacts, and then make decisions within a clear framework.\"\n\nMontgomery County Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe said that \"the moratorium does not mean we stop; it means we work harder to address water, noise, and other issues tied to data centers.\"\n\nOther similar permitting proposals were under consideration, one a two-year moratorium that included the Dickerson project, the other exempting the project, allowing it to continue in the permitting process.\n\nWhile the moratorium is expected to continue for six months, officials said they could end it early if the county adopts permanent zoning changes related to data centers.",
  "title": "Montgomery County pausing data center permits for 6 months"
}