Calvert County Commissioners unanimously pass 6-month data center moratorium

Calvert County Commissioners unanimously enacted a six-month moratorium on new data center applications, a decision made on Tuesday in Prince Frederick, Maryland. This temporary halt allows county leaders time to assess future data center developments, including potential zoning changes or an outright ban. The public hearing was heavily attended by residents and business owners who voiced strong opposition, with many arguing that a six-month pause is insufficient and advocating for a two-year moratorium. Concerns centered on the impact of data centers on local power grids, water supply, and noise levels.

The vote comes in the wake of Amazon's recent decision to retract plans for three data centers near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, a project that faced considerable community backlash over its environmental and infrastructure implications. Commissioner Earl Hance acknowledged the significant revenue opportunity of the withdrawn $22 billion project, estimated at $400 million annually for the county, while emphasizing the county's responsibility to evaluate its overall benefit. Community opposition, sparked by an Amazon job posting for a construction manager in Lusby, galvanized residents, leading to a grassroots organizing effort and a petition with over 10,000 signatures. Organizer Melissa Emmal praised the cross-party community action that led to the moratorium. Calvert County now joins Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George's counties as Maryland jurisdictions enacting similar temporary bans.