On March 3, 2026, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to initiate the formal process of exploring a 24-month moratorium on data center approvals, permits, rezoning, site plans, and construction authorizations. The step aims to allow time for a comprehensive public environmental impact study covering power, water, and land issues.
Amazon will host an open house for Calvert County residents at Calvert Middle School, 655 Chesapeake Blvd., Prince Frederick on Thursday, March 26. Two sessions will be offered at 5 PM and 6:30 PM. The event will be a Q&A format — residents can submit questions in advance. A livestream will be available on the county YouTube channel. The announcement was met with criticism from residents who called it a marketing tool and questioned why independent review was not included.
Data center proposals are testing local planning processes across Southern Maryland, with St. Marys, Calvert, and Charles counties all grappling with how to regulate large-scale facilities. Each county is taking a different approach, but all face similar concerns about water usage, energy costs, noise pollution, and the impact on rural communities.
The Department of Planning and Zoning presented a second version of draft text amendments at the March 10 Board of County Commissioners meeting, hoping to put stronger guidance in place for any future data centers. The amendments aim to address environmental, infrastructure, and community impact concerns raised by residents.
A Calvert County resident wrote to the Calvert Recorder questioning the claimed benefits of data center development, asking how massive industrial facilities would truly help everyday citizens when the risks to water, energy costs, and quality of life are so significant.
At the March 3 Board of County Commissioners meeting, AWS representative Becky Ford confirmed the existence of a nondisclosure agreement with the county and stated that while Calvert offers infrastructure assets, no plans or permits have been filed and nothing is in place. Commissioners and residents pressed for transparency, leading to the unanimous vote to explore a 24-month moratorium on data center approvals.
The Board of County Commissioners publicly confirmed Amazon as the company behind data center exploration in Calvert County after an AWS representative addressed the board. The revelation came amid resident demands for transparency about who was involved in confidential discussions with the county.
Job postings for Amazon Web Services roles in data center construction in Lusby triggered immediate resident concerns. AWS told commissioners that "nothing is in place" for a possible data center — the postings represent early site evaluation rather than a formal commitment.
Proposed amendments in early 2026 would mandate closed-loop cooling systems, prohibit groundwater use for cooling, require developers to fund all infrastructure costs, and enforce Tier 4 generator standards to reduce emissions.
Calvert County pulled its data center-related request from its state legislation agenda, signaling a shift in the county approach to data center development amid growing public scrutiny and concern from residents.
Calvert County officials reached out to communities that already host data centers to learn about real-world impacts — both positive and negative — as the county evaluates whether and how to allow the facilities.
As county officials highlighted data centers as an economic growth opportunity in Calvert five-year plan through 2031, residents voiced strong opposition citing concerns over water usage, rising energy costs, noise pollution, and the impact on the county rural character.