Data center moratorium shot down in Calvert on split vote

Calvert County, Maryland – A proposal for a two-year moratorium on data center development in Calvert County was rejected by county commissioners in a 3-2 split vote, drawing sharp criticism from a significant portion of the public. The contentious decision, made during a meeting that was originally designated as a work session, saw Commissioners Todd Ireland, Mark C. Cox Sr., and Earl F. “Buddy” Hance vote against the moratorium, while Commissioners Mike Hart and Catherine M. Grasso supported it. Commissioner Hart, who initially proposed the moratorium in early March, argued it was necessary to conduct environmental impact studies on land, air, and water, learning from past development mistakes such as the Dominion Cove Point project. Despite his efforts, the motion to draft an ordinance for the moratorium was defeated. The commissioners then proceeded to pass two alternative motions put forward by Commissioner Cox. The first motion directed staff to send a letter to the Maryland Public Service Commission to address concerns about rising electrical rates and to draft zoning ordinance text amendments that would remove data centers from light industrial and mixed-use districts, confining them to heavy industrial sites like Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and Cove Point LNG plant. The second motion called for a study into the legal and fiscal feasibility of using data center revenues to offset property taxes, support education, and fund mitigation efforts for community challenges like failing septic systems. Residents, including Corey Wathen of Lusby and Mark Guffrida of Lusby, expressed strong opposition to data centers, citing concerns about noise, light, air, and water pollution, and a fear of transitioning to a “city lifestyle.” John Mattingly, the planning commission’s attorney, cautioned that prolonged moratoriums could lead to developers filing “taking” claims. Commissioner Ireland defended the board's decision, highlighting the potential for substantial tax revenue from data centers to address county debt and future needs.