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It Takes More Than 1 Activist To Kill a Data Center
A proposed $5 billion data centre in Landover, Maryland, remains stalled, but the article argues that local activist Taylor Frazier McCollum should not be treated as the sole cause. County officials have repeatedly imposed moratoriums, reflecting wider public opposition to data centres and putting political decisions at the centre of the project’s fate.
McCollum began campaigning after learning the site was about a mile from her home and launched a petition in June 2025. The project had received final planning approval in 2024, but a temporary county executive moratorium has been extended and is due to expire at the end of 2026; a separate two-year council moratorium applies only to new projects. The article says concerns about water use and electricity prices have fuelled hundreds of moratoriums and helped cancel $260 billion in projects, while disputing some claims made by opponents.
In short
- Landover’s $5 billion data centre is stalled by county moratoriums.
- The article says wider public opposition matters more than one activist.
- A county executive moratorium is due to expire at year’s end.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the proposed data centre could argue that it had received final planning approval and may bring investment, jobs and useful digital infrastructure to the area. They may also see repeated moratoriums as an uncertain way to set policy, and argue that concerns about water and electricity should be assessed against evidence and addressed through clear, project-specific conditions.
The case against
Opponents could argue that approval does not settle whether a large facility is appropriate near homes, particularly when residents have concerns about water use, electricity costs and local impacts. They may view moratoriums as a legitimate pause for elected officials to examine those risks and wider public opposition before allowing further development.