Prince George's County residents rally for permanent ban on data centers

Residents from across Prince George’s County gathered in Largo on July 2 to demand a permanent ban on AI data center development, sharpening a fight that has moved from community meetings into a countywide political test. The rally came after months of mounting backlash over a proposed project at the old Landover Mall site and other potential locations, with opponents warning that the facilities could strain power, water, and nearby neighborhoods while tying up large tracts of land for industrial use.

County leaders have already put a temporary brake on the industry. County Executive Aisha Braveboy issued an order pausing permits for data center construction, and the County Council moved toward a separate moratorium on reviews and approvals of future projects. That leaves the county in a holding pattern, not a final decision: the pause blocks new permits for now, but it does not amount to a permanent ban. The rally’s message was aimed at making sure that stopgap does not become the opening for a faster return later.

The fight has been building since the Qualified Data Centers Task Force began work on May 14, 2025. County records say the task force is studying the potential risks, community benefits and revenue potential of qualified data center uses in Prince George’s County, and it was required to submit recommendations to the County Council by November 30, 2025. The county later released 14 recommendations to guide data center development, showing that the policy debate remained active even after the initial pause.

That split between caution and development is at the center of the county’s next move. Supporters of a permanent ban say the county should not wait through another round of studies while industrial projects keep advancing toward approval. County officials and policy advocates, meanwhile, have kept the fiscal argument alive, with one report arguing that data centers could still be worthwhile for a cash-strapped government if the county sets the rules carefully.

For residents in Largo, the concern is that once land is rezoned, permits are issued and equipment is planned, the county may not be able to unwind the impacts easily. The crowd at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Largo headquarters underscored how local the issue has become, even as it touches county revenue, planning authority and the future shape of development in Prince George’s County.