Calvert County Commissioner Addresses Data Center Opposition, Moratorium Discussion
Calvert County Commissioner Earl F. "Buddy" Hance defended his stance on data centers after losing his primary election, while public commenters and other commissioners pushed for a moratorium on development. Commissioner Catherine M. Grasso announced that a specific data center project proposed by Nateli in Lusby is no longer being considered. A discussion about a possible data center moratorium is scheduled for the board's next meeting.
Calvert County Commissioner Earl F. "Buddy" Hance, who recently lost his primary election, used a commissioners' meeting to defend his position on data centers and criticize social media posts from opponents. Hance, along with two other incumbents who allegedly supported data center development, were defeated in the June Republican primary by candidates openly against the projects. He declared that two data center projects revealed this year are "done."
Despite Hance's comments, Commissioner Mike Hart continued his four-month advocacy for a two-year moratorium on data center development, stating it "has to happen." Commissioner President Todd Ireland advised against immediate action due to open meetings law, noting that a previous motion for a work session on a moratorium ordinance failed in a tie vote.
Commissioner Catherine M. Grasso confirmed during the meeting that Nateli, a proposer of a data center campus in Lusby, is "no longer in the running." Linda Turner, the county administrator, assured Commissioner Hart that a discussion regarding a possible moratorium would be placed on the agenda for the board's upcoming meeting on July 21. All current commissioner candidates for the November ballot, across both parties, have expressed opposition to data centers in Calvert County.