Frederick County elections could hinge on one issue - data centers
Frederick County, Maryland, residents are making data center policy a key issue in local elections, protesting county decisions including the approval of a large data center development zone. A proposed community benefit agreement for the Quantum Frederick project is being met with skepticism, while the county executive has enacted a freeze on future data center development.
Frederick County, Maryland, is experiencing significant local opposition to data center development, making it a critical issue for the upcoming midterm elections. Residents, feeling "betrayed" by local leaders, protested outside a county information panel, citing the approval of a 2,600-acre data center development zone that overlaps the existing 1,600-acre Quantum Frederick (QF) campus near Adamstown. A petition against the zone garnered over 21,000 signatures, leading to a referendum that was ultimately struck down by the Maryland Supreme Court due to a lack of clarity.
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater recently announced a proposed $110 million community benefit agreement with Catellus, the master developer of QF. This agreement would require a 20% reduction in project square footage, an 80% decrease in potable water usage, and the preservation of 433 acres. However, residents view this as a "bribe," with Senator Karen Lewis Young urging the postponement of the agreement until a new county council is in place and robust public hearings are held.
In August, Fitzwater issued two executive orders, including a freeze on all future data center development until a state cost-benefit analysis is completed. The second order mandates data centers to report their power requirements and sources, aligning with the state's Utility RELIEF Act. County officials, including Bryan Burk (water and sewer), Barry Glotfelty (environmental health), Jason Stitt (public works), and Anthony Rosano (emergency management), provided updates on plans to use effluent water for cooling, lack of well water contamination, road impact mitigation, and noise complaint handling, respectively.