MCPS Pilots AI-Supported Video Monitoring
Parents‘ Coalition of Montgomery County | March 2026
“This has not been discussed at the Board of Education. This has not had any procurement process…”
Montgomery County Public Schools has begun testing an AI-assisted monitoring system using existing security cameras in several high schools as a pilot program.
Read more:
https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/03/montgomery-county-public-schools-uses.html
Maryland Office of People’s Counsel Warns of Transmission Costs Linked to Data Center Growth
Maryland Office of the People‘s Counsel | 2026
“Marylanders will be paying over $1.3 billion in future decades for transmission lines largely driven by data center growth in neighboring states.”
In a public outreach post, Brandi Nieland, Director of Consumer Services at the Maryland Office of the People’s Counsel, highlighted concerns about the potential cost of new electric transmission infrastructure needed to support rapid growth in regional data center demand.
According to the Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC), Maryland residential utility customers could ultimately bear part of the cost of new transmission lines built to supply energy for large-scale data center development in neighboring states. OPC is participating in regulatory proceedings at the state and federal levels addressing how these infrastructure costs may be allocated.
Learn more:
https://opc.maryland.gov/Consumer-Learning/Data-Centers
Federal Bill Targets Data Center Electricity Costs
U.S. Senate | January 2026
“Americans shouldn’t have to foot the bill for big corporations’ massive expansion of data centers.”
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced the Power for the People Act of 2026, legislation aimed at preventing residential electricity customers from subsidizing the energy and transmission infrastructure required by large data centers.
The bill would require data center operators to pay for grid upgrades and other infrastructure needed to support their electricity demand and would direct regulators to consider creating separate utility rate classes for data centers.
Data Center Legislation and Policy Debate
Montgomery County Council | February–March 2026
The Council is considering proposals related to the siting and regulation of large-scale data centers in Montgomery County.
- Memo from Council staff with the proposed ZTA 26-01 and written testimony
- Memo from Council staff with the proposed Bill 4-26 and written testimony
- Video of the ZTA 26-01 hearing
- Video of the Bill 4-26 hearing
- Local Fox5 TV coverage of the 2/24/26 hearings
- Local NBC4 TV coverage of the two bills 1/20/26
- 20 local groups urge 6-month moratorium
Several community and advocacy organizations have issued action alerts encouraging residents to contact the Council or submit testimony regarding the proposals. We have included some of those on our “Take Action” web page.
Key takeaways from public testimony:
Dozens of residents spoke during hearings and forums. Their comments varied in background and affiliation, but several themes emerged:
- Strong opposition or calls for a moratorium were the dominant positions.
- Many speakers argued that data centers should not proceed under current conditions.
- Even speakers who supported conditional development emphasized strict limits, transparency, and enforceability.
- Some speakers warned that large data center development could entrench corporate power and surveillance infrastructure, while limiting local control over how these systems are ultimately used.
More information:
Montgomery County Residents Speak Out on Data Centers at Feb. 3, 2026 Community Forum
Parker Security Robot Pilot Cancelled
WTOP | January 14, 2026
“The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is scrapping a pilot program for a 420-pound robot on wheels that was introduced as a potential tool to help deter crime and surveil public parking garages.”
Montgomery County decided not to move forward with broader deployment of the Parker autonomous security robot after a one-year pilot in the Silver Spring Town Square parking garage. Officials cited community concerns and questions about surveillance and public trust.