PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — One of Calvert’s more vocal commissioners about the data center debate pushed back on accusations of “negotiations” at the June 2 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting.
Grasso used her time during the period allotted for commissioner comments to address earlier public comments.
“I have not been in any negotiations with data centers. I have not had any sit-downs with AWS or Natelli talking about data centers. Period. End of story. The more I got into this data center debacle, you know how I feel. I’m not for them. I don’t think they’re conducive or appropriate for our community and what we want for our community and for our environment. End of story.”
“The minutes say otherwise, you were present in those meetings,” a man called from the audience after Grasso denied being involved in any negotiations.
Grasso was referring to a public comment made by Patrick Flaherty, a candidate for county commissioner in District 1. Flaherty used his time during the public comment period to share that, to his understanding, the BOCC has gone into executive sessions 24 times over a two-year period to discuss data centers.
“You have met repeatedly with representatives from Natelli Holdings, Rowan Green, AWS and Constellation. None of you can credibly claim ignorance about data centers,” Flaherty said, speaking to the board as a whole, before accusing them of playing political theater during an election year.
In executive session meeting minutes from 2024 and 2025, several meetings have a stated purpose of “to discuss a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State.” However, none of the documents mention AWS, Natelli Holdings or Rowan Digital Infrastructure/Rowan Green Data, the companies under scrutiny regarding data center confidentiality agreements signed by the county. Grasso is present at the meetings according to the minutes, but the minutes do no provide a comprehensive view of the meetings or Grasso’s role.
Maryland General Provisions Code § 3-305 allows county commissioners to hold closed-door meetings under certain circumstances, one of which is economic development.
Grasso was the only commissioner at the June 2 meeting who chose to address Flaherty’s comments.
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