Protesters hit Hagerstown to protest major data center proposed for city
Protesters in Hagerstown, Maryland, demonstrated against a proposed data center development by Diversified Capital on land being annexed into the city. Activist groups are pushing for transparency from the Washington County Commissioners, who reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement regarding the land deal. The county has enacted a moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated areas, while concerns about water and electricity usage are being raised by citizens.
Protesters from Hagerstown Rapid Response and Washington County Indivisible gathered outside the Washington County Board of Commissioners to voice opposition against a proposed data center. The project, led by developer Diversified Capital, is slated for a property known as Martin Farm, which is currently undergoing annexation into the city of Hagerstown.
The protest follows an investigation by Hagerstown Rapid Response, which alleges that Washington County Commissioners signed a non-disclosure agreement in December 2025 concerning a land deal for the site. Moshe Rubin, COO of Diversified Capital, and Zack Fritz, COO of Sage Policy Group, a firm known for supporting data centers, were reportedly present during a closed meeting on the matter. Diversified Capital's Martin Farm property was initially described as a warehouse project but was advertised in 2024 as ideal for a data center, citing power and water availability. The investigation also found job listings for data center security guards in Hagerstown.
On June 30, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center applications in unincorporated areas of Washington County. However, on the same day, Diversified Capital moved to have Martin Farm annexed into Hagerstown, which could place the project outside the county's moratorium control, leaving the decision to the city. Washington County Administrator Michelle Gordon clarified that no data center has been approved by the county and emphasized ongoing efforts to develop best practices and potential zoning and policy changes for future data facilities.
Citizens have expressed concerns regarding data centers' high water consumption for cooling and significant electricity demands, fearing potential shortages or increased rates for homeowners. The full investigation by Hagerstown Rapid Response is available on their blog.