Amazon wants sprawling data center campuses at Calvert Cliffs nuclear site

Amazon is exploring plans to develop seven data center facilities across three campuses on 2,000 acres at Constellation Energy's Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Southern Maryland. Documents obtained by The Banner indicate the project is in the evaluation stage, with no formal agreements or submitted site plans yet. If approved, these would mark the first large-scale data centers in Calvert County. Amazon representatives, including Becky Ford from Amazon Web Services, have stated that the company would cover the costs for its own electrical supply and necessary transmission line upgrades, connecting to the PJM Interconnection power grid. The proposed 500-megawatt data centers would use water from the nuclear plant for cooling and would require clearing over 150 acres of trees, impacting historic properties like Parran’s Park and the Baltimore and Drum Point Railroad, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Historical Trust. Local residents have voiced opposition to data center developments, citing concerns over environmental impacts, quality of life, and criticizing elected officials for signing non-disclosure agreements with developers. Although the Calvert County Commissioners passed a zoning ordinance last year to allow heavy industry, including data centers, near the nuclear plant, Amazon's project remains pending. Separately, Natelli Holdings has also proposed a 300-megawatt data center campus in Calvert County, roughly six miles south of Amazon's proposed site.