Calvert County Passes Six-Month Moratorium On Data Centers
The Calvert Board of County Commissioners passed a six-month moratorium on data center development following strong public support at a recent meeting. This decision comes after Amazon Web Services withdrew a conceptual site development plan in Lusby, and aims to allow the county time to establish stronger regulations and address zoning concerns.
The Calvert Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously passed a six-month data center moratorium at its August 18 meeting, following a packed public hearing where citizens predominantly voiced support for the measure.
The decision comes shortly after Amazon Web Services (AWS) withdrew its conceptual site development plan in Lusby, citing a shift in investment priorities. Commissioner Mike Hart and Catherine Grasso, who previously attempted to initiate a moratorium, highlighted concerns about its strength. Commissioner Grasso suggested reverting zoning rules to remove the "Heavy Industrial" designation, while Commissioner Hart emphasized the need for the county to tighten its environmental ordinances and potentially absorb the cost of environmental studies.
Citizens for Calvert Vice President Danielle Pak urged the BOCC to view the moratorium as an initial step, advocating for stronger, permanent protections against data center development. Maryland state Senate candidate Chuck Borges warned that industrial encroachment would persist due to the region's proximity to power centers, while Nancy Elwine, representing Citizens of Camp Conoy Road, called for reclassifying the Lusby land back to "Forest and Farming." The BOCC ultimately voted 5-0 to pass the moratorium, which includes a stipulation against accepting new site plans or applications during the six-month period, opting against a longer ban due to potential legal challenges and scheduling constraints.