Calvert County considers 6-month data center moratorium after Amazon pullout
Calvert County, Maryland, is currently considering a six-month moratorium on new data center projects, with a public hearing drawing significant community attendance. This action follows Amazon's recent decision to withdraw plans for three data centers in the area, a direct consequence of intense community opposition. The proposed moratorium aims to allow the county to review and update its policies regarding data center development.
The Calvert County Board of Commissioners is currently holding a public hearing to consider a six-month moratorium on new data center projects. The hearing room was reportedly packed with residents, highlighting the community's strong interest in the issue. This consideration comes just days after Amazon announced it was abandoning its plans to construct three data centers near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.
Amazon's withdrawal was a direct result of several months of intense community opposition. Residents became aware of the proposed data centers in February, a project that had initially garnered support from county commissioners. The data center proposal subsequently became a key issue in the June primary election, leading to the defeat of three incumbent commissioners who had opposed a moratorium on such developments. If approved, the moratorium would pause all new data center project considerations, allowing the county time to re-evaluate its policies, a step already taken by other Maryland jurisdictions.