Amazon open house provides info, draws demonstrators in Calvert

Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently held an open house in Calvert County, Maryland, to discuss conceptual plans for a new data center campus in Lusby, near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Becky Ford of Amazon clarified that the project, comprising eight buildings, is still under evaluation and not finalized, stating that no rezoning would be required. The proposed data center campus would partner with Constellation Energy Group, leveraging its water supply from the nuclear plant for cooling, though Amazon's Michael Fredette noted that air cooling would be used 96% of the time. The campus would also incorporate some renewable energy sources and is projected to generate more tax revenue for Calvert County than either the nuclear plant or the Cove Point LNG facility. The plans have met with significant opposition from residents, local political candidates, and current officeholders. Demonstrators protested at the open house, citing concerns about potential noise pollution, soaring electricity bills, and the actual economic benefits for local families. In response, Del. Mark N. Fisher (R-Calvert) urged county commissioners to impose an immediate moratorium on all data centers to allow for more public education and address community concerns. Adding to the local data center discourse, another developer, Natelli Holdings, is planning a public information meeting for its own proposed data center campus in Lusby. Following these discussions, Calvert County commissioners are scheduled to vote the day after Natelli Holdings' meeting on whether to enact a two-year moratorium on all data center projects in the county.