Frederick County data center open house leaves residents with mixed reactions
Residents came looking for answers about water use, roads, noise and emissions surrounding data center development, but some left with many of the same concerns.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
County officials held the first open house near Adamstown. Residents asked about water use, roads, noise, emissions and other impacts. Phase 1 of Quantum Frederick can be permitted for up to 1.3 million gallons of Potomac River water per day. That phase is not expected to use groundwater. A second open house is scheduled Sept. 9 in Urbana.
Frederick County residents had a chance this week to speak directly with government officials about data center development, but the open house did not settle many of the concerns surrounding the projects.
The county hosted the event Wednesday at the Claggett Center near Adamstown. Representatives from several county departments and the Maryland Department of the Environment staffed information tables covering permitting, zoning, site design, health, air quality, emergency management and other issues. County departments represented included Planning and Permitting, Public Works, Emergency Management, and Fire and Rescue.
Nearby resident John McClurkin said county staff provided useful and detailed answers, particularly on water and sewer issues. He learned that Phase 1 of the Quantum Frederick campus will be permitted to use up to 1.3 million gallons of water per day from the Potomac River for cooling and domestic purposes. County spokesperson Vivian Laxton said that phase will not use groundwater. McClurkin said he had previously believed the project would rely on reclaimed water, although he was somewhat reassured that the 1.3 million gallons represents a maximum rather than expected daily consumption.
Other residents remained more concerned. Adamstown resident Mark Matovich questioned how the county will protect people living near data centers and raised concerns about the long-term cost of maintaining roads improved or expanded for the projects. He was also glad County Executive Jessica Fitzwater attended the event, while questioning whether increased outreach was coming too late.
Nearby resident Marc Allen focused on noise and emissions from emergency diesel generators. Information about generator emissions eased some of his concerns, but he said the overall regulatory picture remains difficult for an average resident to fully understand. He also said he still does not look forward to living near large-scale data center development.
A second county data center open house is scheduled for Sept. 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Urbana Volunteer Fire Department banquet hall, 3602 Urbana Pike. The Maryland Department of the Environment is not expected to attend that event.
WHAT IT MEANS
The open house gave residents more direct access to county officials, but it also showed how many unanswered or complicated questions remain around data center development. Water use, infrastructure costs and quality-of-life concerns are likely to remain major parts of the debate as additional projects move through Frederick County.
Want more Frederick updates like this?
Get local alerts, event reminders, restaurant openings, sports news, giveaways, live show updates, and community stories from Everything Frederick. Want to talk about what’s happening? Join the Frederick Connect community too.
