Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich to Host Community Forum on Data Center Legislation and Policies on Tuesday, Feb. 3

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich invites residents, community organizations, climate and environmental activists, and residents to attend a community forum on data centers from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Leggett Executive Office Building (LEOB) auditorium. The LEOB is located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. Residents and stakeholders can attend the forum in person or click here to participate virtually

County Executive Elrich seeks input on local legislation and policies for data centers in Montgomery County. A data center holds the computer equipment needed to store information and run digital services, and the large, "hyperscale," facilities require significant electricity and cooling to operate. Data centers are growing across the region and offer economic benefits, but they also raise environmental, social, and land-use concerns.

"Data centers are part of the modern economy, and we need to have an honest conversation about what they mean for Montgomery County," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "Data centers can bring investment and jobs, but they also place real demands on our power grid, our water supply, and our land use. I want residents, businesses, and environmental advocates at the table, so we need to get this right. The decisions we make now will affect our climate goals, our neighborhoods, and energy costs for years to come. This forum is about listening first and making sure any policy we adopt reflects the values and priorities of the people who live here."

To guide the development of local data center legislation and policy, the County Executive developed draft Legislative and Policy Recommendations for Data Centers in Montgomery Countybased on best practices, research, and numerous conversations. Both Frederick County and Prince George's County's data center task force final reports inform these recommendations.

"I thank County Executive Elrich for holding this forum," said Council President Natali Fani-González. "I am proud to work with my colleagues Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles on a zoning text amendment (ZTA), inspired by our neighbors, that responsibly guides data center development and mitigates community impacts. We look forward to directly engaging with the community as the ZTA moves through the legislative process. Montgomery County embraces technology, innovation, and the economy of the future."

For additional questions, please email climate@montgomerycountymd.gov.

"Data centers are critical to our digital economy, but they also consume large amounts of energy and water," said County Climate Change Officer Sarah Kogel-Smucker. "Our goal is to shape data center development in Montgomery County to align with our climate goals and use best practices for clean energy and efficient cooling."

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