Calvert County Passes Six-Month Moratorium On Data Centers

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — The Calvert Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) chose to pass the latest proposed six-month data center moratorium at its Aug. 18 meeting.

Dozens of citizens spoke at the public hearing regarding the moratorium in a packed meeting where some residents stood in the back. Nearly all the speakers did so in support of the moratorium; those who opposed it asked for stronger regulations. One speaker advised forming a citizens advisory committee or working group to work with the county on any and all data center questions.

This ordinance marks the first time a written moratorium has been on the agenda at the BOCC, after several failed attempts by Commissioners Mike Hart and Catherine Grasso to direct Planning and Zoning staff to draft a moratorium.

The vote also comes on the heels of the announcement by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that the company was withdrawing its conceptual site development plan in Lusby. Regarding the withdrawal, an Amazon spokesperson wrote in an email to The BayNet that “After a thorough review, we determined that our investment is better directed toward other opportunities that more closely align with our near-term needs at this time.” The spokesperson added that the company may continue exploring potential locations in Maryland, but “move forward only where the conditions support responsible development, community priorities, and lasting value.”

Grasso began the discussion by saying the moratorium didn’t have enough “teeth” to hold back data center development. Grasso asked Planning and Zoning Director Jason Brinkley to consider reverting zoning rules back to 2025 rules, which would remove the “Heavy Industrial” designation.

Commissioner Mark Cox asked about the stipulation about not accepting applications. In usual practice, an applicant would pay for a study that could cost tens of millions of dollars. Cox asked how studies would be paid for if not by an applicant.

Hart countered that the county would simply have to “eat” the cost of an environmental study. “If they pay it, they’re going to come back with what they know they can pass,” Hart said, citing experiences with past industrial projects like LNG.

Hart also suggested making sure the county tightens its own environmental ordinances instead of relying on state and federal laws.

Vice President of Citizens for Calvert Danielle Pak urged the BOCC to vote yes on the moratorium as just the beginning of the data center fight.

“This moratorium is a first step, but it cannot be the last,” Pak said, citing the BOCC’s urge to press the “easy button” to solve revenue problems rather than considering the big picture and long-term effects. “Governing a community is not simply about maximizing revenue, and not everything we value can be measured in dollars.” Pak, like many others who spoke at the meeting, asked the BOCC to pass the moratorium to buy enough time to pass ordinances that offer better protections for the county.

Maryland state Senate candidate Chuck Borges spoke as a data expert, referencing his extensive experience in government agencies.

“I come today with a warning,” Borges said. “This will not stop. We are too close to the centers of power for our government and the literal power that we generate for industrial encroachment to stop pushing into our region.” Borges said the issues around data centers would continue to grow and that local regions like Calvert County needed to protect themselves. Borges urged the BOCC to pass the current moratorium and then strengthen it.

“We need to stop playing whack-a-mole with these tech giants,” said Nancy Elwine, representing the Citizens of Camp Conoy Road. Elwine said that the land AWS was interested in, located in Lusby, would be protected simply by reverting it back to “Forest and Farming” instead of “Heavy Industrial.” Elwine’s group has accused the BOCC of allowing the zoning change to happen illegally.

Speakers celebrated the short-term win but urged the BOCC and their fellow Calvert County residents to keep working to stop data center development in Calvert County. Without permanent and strong protections, Calvert County will continue to be an enticing location for companies who wish to build data centers — and for many, the risks are just too high.

“Together we put together a movement that the likes of Calvert County has never seen. We beat Jeff Bezos!” said county commissioner candidate Ethan Cox to applause from the audience. “But our students, our parents, our friends on Camp Conoy Road still live in purgatory.”

After the public comment, the BOCC considered scrapping the six-month moratorium in favor of a longer moratorium or one with more stringent requirements. They also discussed how to remove the discussed zoning ordinances for the Heavy Industrial properties.

Commissioners were hesitant to restart the process to create a strong moratorium, since they are not meeting again until late September, and chose not to implement an outright ban due to possible legal challenges.

Finally, Cox moved to adopt the moratorium with the amendments that no new site plans or applications would be accepted during the six-month moratorium.

The BOCC voted yes 5-0 to pass the moratorium to cheers from the crowd.

---