WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, support a temporary moratorium or pause on data center site plan review and/or approval until the County’s Data Centers Workgroup has made its recommendations and the County has passed a revised data center ordinance spelling out state-of-the-art criteria. 

The Data Centers Workgroup, appointed by the Frederick County Executive "to examine existing laws and other issues related to this relatively new and rapidly changing industry,” continues their work. At the same time, we are seeing continued county action on data center development. A four-building data center site at Quantum Loophole is scheduled for a public meeting January 10, 2024, with potential for approvals prior to updated regulations.

Data centers are unique because no other industry has the potential for cumulatively negative impacts on the county in terms of energy consumption, greenhouse gas generation, water consumption, wastewater production, harmful noise and air pollution.

The Quantum Loophole site also is unique as a brownfield site that requires compliance with the State-approved environmental covenant, which already has been violated. 

We believe this moratorium is necessary to ensure public health, safety, and well-being in Frederick County.