Areas across the DMV fight the data center influx
The DMV region (Maryland and Virginia) is experiencing an influx of data center development, leading to local opposition and calls for greater regulation. In Calvert County, Maryland, Amazon abandoned plans for three data centers after strong community backlash and a change in county commission leadership. Meanwhile, in Virginia, Governor Abigail Spanberger discussed the need for new transmission lines to power data centers and declined to issue a statewide moratorium, deferring to local governments.
Residents and lawmakers across the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia) are pushing back against the rapid influx of data centers, leading to calls for stricter regulations, permit balks, and multi-year moratoriums. The issue is prominent in both Maryland and Virginia, with concerns ranging from environmental impacts to energy demands.
In Calvert County, Maryland, plans for three Amazon data centers near the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant faced intense community opposition. Residents like Patty Stutler expressed concerns about the delicate Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Despite initial county commissioner support, public outcry intensified, culminating in the defeat of incumbent commissioners who opposed a data center moratorium in the June primary election. Last week, Amazon announced it was abandoning its plans, citing a business decision, although observers believe political changes played a significant role.
Maryland Director Brittany Baker of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network noted that three-fourths of Marylanders live in areas covered by moratoriums, advocating for a statewide moratorium to standardize regulations. The Calvert County Commissioners are now slated to vote on a data center moratorium. Meanwhile, in Virginia, Dominion Energy is building extensive new transmission lines to power data centers across counties including Prince William, Loudon, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Fauquier, and Orange.
Reporter Nick Minogue questioned Governor Abigail Spanberger about intervening in these transmission line projects and issuing a statewide data center moratorium. Governor Spanberger stated she would not intervene in individual State Corporation Commission (SCC) cases related to transmission lines, citing her focus on the broader Dominion Energy and NextEra merger, where she is a party. She also declined to issue a statewide moratorium, asserting that local governments should retain the authority to decide on data center development.