(7/2023) On June 22nd, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced the formation of The Data Centers Workgroup to examine the County’s current critical data infrastructure regulations. The data center industry is just getting started in Frederick County, after becoming a fixture in the economies of neighboring counties in Northern Virginia since the early 2000s. Given our relatively close location to Ashburn, Virginia, this is understandable. 70% of the world’s internet traffic flows through Ashburn, which is only about 30 miles from Frederick County. Our location, coupled with a state tax incentive passed in 2020, has brought the cloud data center industry to Frederick County. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to incorporate this industry into the County’s growing technology economy in ways that preserve our agricultural and natural resources. I was honored to be selected to serve on the workgroup, and I’m looking forward to serving with the other
members who will each bring valuable experiences and perspectives.
Currently, data centers are permitted to be located on the Quantum Loophole site in Adamstown. This project is underway and in March of 2022, the previous County Council approved critical data infrastructure laws to limit data centers to Limited Industrial and General Industrial zoning districts. They also established design requirements and an Architectural Review Committee. As we begin to permit data center operation in specific areas in Frederick County, these were important first steps to preserve the natural beauty and quality of life in rural areas of the county. This approach was not taken in Northern Virginia, and although counties such as Loudoun take in many millions of dollars in business property tax revenue, many residents are unhappy with the rapid increase in the number of data centers in all kinds of locations.
Data center development will not just affect southern areas of the county which are closer to Virginia, such as Adamstown. The Data Center Workgroup will be looking at ways for the data center industry to provide value for Frederick County that will benefit all residents, including those living in the North County area. Consideration must also be given to County farmers and the agricultural industry as data centers will increase demand for water usage. Local farmers must follow environmental regulations, and the data center industry should also be required to operate in an environment with sustainability in mind. One member of the workgroup will be a member of the Frederick County Farm Bureau.
To ensure transparency and open communication with County residents, the workgroup meetings will be broadcast on FCG TV and will be subject to open meetings laws. Meeting details can be found on the County’s website at FrederickCountyMD.gov/Datacenters. County Executive Fitzwater has also issued an executive order to pause all applications for zoning changes outside of regular updated zoning (also called "piecemeal" rezoning) which regulates land uses. This pause will allow the workgroup to have time to identify the best ways for Frederick County to move forward with data center development, while maintaining a level playing field for those interested in possible investment in the data center industry after the workgroup issues its report.
Now is the time for Frederick County to learn lessons from neighboring counties. As regional data center development continues to expand farther away from Ashburn, a comprehensive plan for where data centers should be will keep the County on track with our agricultural preservation priorities. Areas like western Prince William County and Stafford County, Virginia are implementing policies to attract data center development, even though they are farther out from the Data Center Alley area in Northern Virginia. We know from an agricultural preservation perspective that once farmland is developed for another use, it’s gone for that purpose, along with the beautiful rural landscapes.
I’m looking forward to serving on The Data Center Workgroup and contributing to plan to introduce this new industry to Frederick County that will deliver benefits to County residents, while also being environmentally responsible.
If you have thoughts on data center development or other County issues, feel free to share them with me. You can send them to rknapp@frederickcountymd.gov.
Have a happy and safe Independence Day!
