Hurlock MD three-year data center moratorium (2026)

Hurlock, Md. (Dorchester County, Eastern Shore) — THREE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS approved by the town at an AUGUST 2026 meeting. DURATION: at 36 months this is the second-longest local pause indexed, behind Independence County AR five-year data center moratorium (2026) (60 months, this wave) and ahead of Lawrence County IL two-year data center moratorium (2026) (24). THE SAME DURATION CAUTION APPLIES AS ON THE INDEPENDENCE COUNTY ENTRY and is recorded as analysis rather than as any adjudicated defect: moratorium defensibility generally turns on reasonableness of duration and on demonstrable progress toward permanent regulations, and a multi-year term strains both, inviting characterisation as a de facto prohibition adopted without the process a prohibition requires. MARYLAND HAS NO EXPRESS STATUTORY MORATORIUM CEILING ASSERTED HERE, and none was researched; compare the express caps recorded elsewhere (Minn. Stat. § 462.355 subd. 4; Cal. Gov. Code § 65858; 30-A M.R.S. § 4356). NO CHALLENGE IS REPORTED. MARYLAND CLUSTER, WHICH IS DENSE ON THE EASTERN SHORE: Cambridge (Dorchester County) approved a one-year moratorium on the 24th of a month in 2026 (also in the unwritten queue); Federalsburg is described in queued reporting as 'the first Eastern Shore community' to act; Easton (Talbot County) is deferred as 'to draft' a one-year moratorium; Prince George's County MD 2-year data center moratorium records Prince George's County's two-year measure. STATE CONTEXT: Gov. WES MOORE said on 2026-09-17 he would 'absolutely sign' a statewide data center moratorium if one reached his desk in 2027 — recorded in the triage ledger, with the express caution that NOTHING HAS BEEN SIGNED AND NO BILL EXISTS. The Maryland picture is therefore one of accumulating local pauses under an executive who has signalled he would ratify a statewide measure. OPERATIVE SCOPE NOT ESTABLISHED: whether the moratorium bars applications, permits, rezonings or construction is not reported, nor is any threshold, nor the vote.