Executive Order Also Places Temporary Hold on Related Substations
FREDERICK, Md. – Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater issued an executive order today that temporarily prevents the consideration of any new applications for data centers. The order also applies to electrical substations that support data centers.
The order is designed to prevent further development of data centers before new standards become law and while the County Council considers zoning regulations. On May 20, the Frederick County Council approved Bill 25-05, which created stricter design requirements for critical digital infrastructure facilities and substations. A separate bill to limit the construction of these facilities to the area around the old East Alcoa property north of Adamstown was announced at a May 6 press conference with Executive Fitzwater and all seven members of the Council. The overlay bill was discussed at the May 27 Council workshop and will be introduced on June 17.
“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,” County Executive Fitzwater said. “This temporary pause directly addresses those concerns by giving the Council time to act and giving the community peace of mind about the process.”
Executive Order 03-2025 can be found online at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov.
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