County Executive issues an executive order.
Frederick, Md (KM) A six-month hold has been placed on data centers in Frederick County. An executive order issued by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater temporarily prevents the consideration of any new applications for data centers, and that includes the electrical substations used to power these facilities.
“It would be prudent to place a six-month hold on the acceptance, consideration, and processing of applications for Critical Digital Infrastructure Facilities {data centers} and Critical Infrastructure Electrical Substations in order to allow time for the Overlay Bill to proceed through the legislative process,” the Executive Order reads.
Fitzwater says this order prevents further development of data centers until new standards become law.. The County Council recently enacted a bill on May 20th establishing stricter standards on data centers, and the substations that power them.
Another bill being considered by the Council would place an overlay on areas zoned for data centers, and limit their construction to the area around the old East Alcoa property in Adamstown. That bill was announced at a May 6th news conference where County Executive Fitzwater and all seven members of the County Council attended. That measure is expected to be formally introduced to the Council on Tuesday, June 17th.
This executive order directs the Planning and Permitting Division to temporarily discontinue accepting, considering, processing or reviewing any applications for data centers, or any electric substation which powers them. It would not apply to data centers and electric substations which have obtained an approved Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Letter of Understanding prior to the effective date of this Executive Order.
“Members of the County Council and the public voiced concerns about developers rushing data center applications into the process before stronger regulations can be put in place,” Fitzwater says in a statement. “The temporary pause directly addresses those concerns by giving the Council time to act and the giving the community peace of mind about the process.”
The executive order took affect on Wednesday, June 11th, 2025, and will terminate on Tuesday, September 30th., 2025.
By Kevin McManus