From Council Member Wala Blegay, Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha, Council Member Shayla Adams-Stafford, and Council Member Thomas Dernoga
On Tuesday, September 16, Council Member Wala Blegay (District 6), Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7), Council Member Shayla Adams-Stafford (District 5), and Council Member Thomas Dernoga (District 1) will introduce CR-98-2025, a resolution to temporarily pause the review and approval of future data center projects until the county receives recommendations from the Qualified Data Center Task Force.
The task force, composed of elected officials, environmental advocates, and representatives from labor unions, the building industry, service providers, and the county government, has been meeting diligently to study the impacts of data centers on our communities. It is charged with delivering recommendations to the Council no later than November 30.
We have heard directly from residents who raised concerns about the proposed data center in Landover. It is important to note that prior Council legislation passed in 2021 allowed the project to be approved by the county planning board without going to the Council for review. Under the current Council leadership, the Council is committed to ensuring future decisions are made with full transparency.
The proposed resolution reflects a commitment to ensuring residents have confidence that their concerns are heard and considered, supports the task force in its mission to provide informed and thoughtful guidance, and promotes balanced and responsible economic development in Prince George’s County. By taking this step, these Council Members affirm their responsibility to protect public health, safety, and welfare while positioning the county for sustainable growth.