Amazon files concept site plan for Calvert Technology Center in Lusby, Maryland

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has submitted a concept site plan application for its proposed Calvert Technology Center, a substantial data center development planned for Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland. The project is slated for two parcels totaling over 2,000 acres, owned by Constellation Energy Group, situated near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The application, filed in early May, outlines plans for eight data center buildings ranging from 266,000 to 332,000 square feet each, totaling approximately 2.464 million square feet of data center space across three independently operated campuses. Supporting office, utility, and security buildings are also included, with plans for private access drives and bridges over wetlands.

The initial concept review does not constitute project approval, and no construction permits have been issued. The site, currently largely forested with wetlands and Johns Creek, requires extensive stormwater management, with Langan Engineering proposing six wet extended detention ponds and five bioretention facilities to meet county and state environmental standards. Micro-scale Environmental Site Design was deemed infeasible due to site constraints. The application is now under review by Calvert County government departments and other agencies, with the Department of Planning and Zoning notifying the public for transparency purposes.

The filing reignites ongoing local debate regarding data center development in Calvert County, where residents have voiced concerns about environmental and infrastructure impacts. Previous attempts by Commissioners Mike Hart and Catherine Grasso to enact a temporary moratorium on data center development were unsuccessful. However, the Board of County Commissioners recently voted to ensure data centers comply with updated text amendments, preventing projects from being grandfathered under older regulations before construction begins.