Call for a pause: Calvert panel urges data center studies
Calvert County commissioners once again voted down a motion to hold a public hearing on a proposed two-year moratorium on data center approvals, despite an impassioned plea from the county's Environmental Commission. The commission highlighted potential negative environmental and health impacts, while the planning and zoning department continues drafting text amendments for data center development.
Calvert County Commissioners have repeatedly rejected calls for a public hearing on a proposed two-year moratorium on data center approvals, most recently during a lengthy board meeting in Prince Frederick. This decision came despite strong recommendations from the Calvert County Environmental Commission, whose members, including Nell Fuller and Janette Wysocki, urged a pause to study potential environmental and health impacts.
Fuller warned against irreversible damage, citing concerns about ground liquefaction, human health, and the local shellfish population. Wysocki, an ecological psychology expert, emphasized that Calvert's reliance on waterways makes comparisons to Northern Virginia inaccurate and noted that emissions from data center generators could cause acid rain, further harming the Chesapeake Bay's shellfish.
Commissioners Mike Hart and Catherine M. Grasso voiced support for a pause, with Hart moving to schedule a public hearing for a moratorium, seconded by Grasso. Grasso also criticized the ongoing drafting of text amendments by Jason Brinkley, the planning and zoning director, calling them insufficient. However, Hart's motion was voted down by Commissioners Earl F. Hance, Mark C. Cox Sr., and Commissioner President Todd Ireland, amidst public jeers. The Calvert County Republican Central Committee also expressed support for pausing approvals, citing poll results from county Republicans. Amazon Web Services recently made a final fee payment for a large data center project near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby.