Frederick County is temporarily halting new data center development following this week’s Maryland Supreme Court ruling on the county’s data center referendum.
The court determined the zoning measure restricting data centers to an area north of Adamstown cannot appear on the fall ballot. In response, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater signed an executive order pausing the acceptance and processing of new data center and substation applications through December 31, pending the state’s Data Center Impact Analysis.
A second executive order requires developers to register projected energy usage with the Maryland Public Service Commission before advancing through the county review process. The county also plans additional public information sessions and is restarting negotiations on a community benefits agreement for the proposed Quantum Frederick campus, which has already generated more than $50 million in recordation tax revenue.
By: Dianah Gibson
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