Quantum Maryland sues Frederick County official over frozen data center plans
Quantum Maryland sued Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Frederick County and the Planning Commission over an executive order suspending data center applications and an approved zoning ordinance. The company alleges the moratorium and zoning suspension exceeded the county executive's authority and caused it to lose a potential $500 million transaction.
Quantum Maryland filed suit in Frederick County Circuit Court against County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Frederick County and the county Planning Commission, seeking to overturn an executive order that froze data center applications and to reinstate its land-use approval. The developer alleges Fitzwater unlawfully suspended a council-approved zoning ordinance for political reasons and is seeking financial damages.
Fitzwater initially announced a six-month data center moratorium after the Supreme Court of Maryland rejected a referendum effort targeting the county's data center zoning map. She later extended the moratorium through July 2027. The dispute followed negotiations over a proposed $110 million community benefits agreement, which Fitzwater ultimately rejected amid public backlash and concerns that the deal could limit future oversight. Quantum claims the shifting policies contributed to the loss of a potential $500 million transaction.