Local Data Center Moratoriums

Summary

• A wave of local moratoriums and freezes is the dominant pattern, especially in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina.
• Most actions are temporary pauses meant to create standards, study impacts, or define what counts as a data center before more projects are approved.
• The strongest recurring concerns are electricity demand, water use, noise, public health, and effects on ratepayers and local infrastructure.
• Some jurisdictions are moving from pause to prohibition, with Harford County considering a permanent ban rather than a short moratorium.
• Existing or already permitted projects often remain exempt, so regulation is targeting future approvals more than current buildouts.
• Utility planning is becoming part of the dispute, with local officials and residents linking data centers to grid strain, transmission projects, and affordability.
• The policy fight is not uniform: some places are tightening local controls while others face legal risk, state preemption, or projects that predate the moratorium.