How one Maryland county defeated an Amazon data center

In Calvert County, Maryland, a significant grassroots movement has successfully prompted Amazon to withdraw its plans for a large data center campus near Constellation Energy's Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Lusby. The company's decision, announced on August 4, came just months after site plans were submitted in May and followed a surge of community opposition. Residents became aware of Amazon's intentions through a job posting, leading to packed county meetings and strained relationships between constituents and local officials.

The opposition culminated in the June Republican primary, where three incumbent Calvert County commission members, who had consistently voted against data center moratoriums, lost their reelection bids by several thousand votes. New candidates, including Patti Stueckler, made the anti-data center stance central to their campaigns. Amazon spokesperson Abebe Kebede stated the withdrawal was a "business decision" influenced by development timelines and customer needs, while acknowledging community engagement.

Following Amazon's pullout, the Calvert County commission is scheduled to consider a six-month data center moratorium on August 18. This potential policy shift marks a significant change, as the commission had previously rejected moratoriums multiple times. The success in Calvert County highlights a growing anti-data center movement across Maryland, with implications for the industry's expansion in the state. The future of data center development in Calvert County, including potential projects by companies like Natelli Holdings, remains uncertain as a new commission prepares to take office.