A rural county fears a data center ‘freight train’

Residents of Calvert County, Maryland, are deeply concerned and actively opposing plans for two massive data centers, one proposed by Natelli Holdings on land previously designated for a public park, and another by Amazon Web Services (AWS) near a nuclear power plant. The controversy intensified after revelations of non-disclosure agreements between the county and developers, leading to accusations of secrecy from the public. Commissioner Mike Hart advocated for a two-year moratorium on data center development, urging his colleagues to take time to study potential impacts on noise levels, utility rates, and the environment. This proposal was made amidst growing nationwide opposition to data centers, as highlighted by a Pew Research Center poll showing increased public concern, and examples from Loudoun County, Virginia, and legislative efforts in Maine and New York to curb data center expansion. During a contentious meeting, the Calvert County Commissioners ultimately rejected the proposed moratorium by a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Hart and Catherine Grasso supporting it, and Earl "Buddy" Hance, Todd Ireland, and Mark Cox voting against. Protesters gathered outside informational meetings, expressing their discontent, and some residents have vowed to challenge the commissioners who voted against the moratorium in upcoming elections. Natelli Holdings has offered to build a park on a different parcel if their data center plan, which involves purchasing county land, is approved. However, many residents remain unimpressed, emphasizing the importance of preserving the county's rural character over potential tax revenues, a sentiment shared by Commissioner Hart, who believes the county isn't "broke" and doesn't need data centers to address its financial future.