Frederick County Council Approves Major Data Center Expansion Amid Heated Debate
December 24, 2025
A contentious Frederick County Council meeting culminated Tuesday night in the approval of a significant rezoning plan to facilitate a major expansion of data center infrastructure in the Maryland county, highlighting the ongoing national tension between economic development and community concerns.
The council voted 5-2 to rezone approximately 2,600 acres of land near Route 15 in Adamstown for data center construction. This decision paves the way for substantial growth in an area that currently hosts 17 data centers, positioning Frederick County to capture more of the booming demand for digital infrastructure driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
The debate centered sharply on the trade-offs between projected fiscal benefits and potential community impacts. Proponents, including Council President Brad Young, framed the development as critical for funding public services. "I will never apologize for fighting for our seniors or fighting for our young students in our school system or those working in our school system to support those students," Young declared, defending his supportive vote.
Opponents, however, warned of overlooked consequences. Councilmember Steve McKay argued, "I think this Council is just fixated on the revenue potential. All they see are the dollar signs and ignore the human cost of this proposal. And there is a human cost, make no mistake." His sentiment was echoed by residents who packed the chambers, many expressing fears based on experiences from other data center hubs.
Resident Kenny Membreno, who recently moved from Virginia's Loudoun County—a global data center epicenter—cautioned, "I saw how all those data centers ravaged the area. The noise pollution, the sound, the lights, just everything, it consumes a lot." Another resident, Joanna Sieger, voiced profound concern about long-term livability, stating, "I think it’s gonna be a mess... We don’t know what the impact is going to be on humans! For them to be that close, with the diesel generators and the lights and the noise, it’s concerning."
The approval signifies a strategic move by Frederick County to compete in the capital-intensive data center market, which requires vast tracts of land and reliable power. The scale of the newly rezoned area, over four square miles, underscores the county's ambition to become a more prominent player in the Mid-Atlantic region's digital economy. While the vote clears a key regulatory hurdle, the strong opposition suggests that community engagement and stringent oversight of construction and operational impacts will be ongoing challenges for developers and local officials.
Source: wusa9
Frederick County Council Approves Major Data Center Expansion Amid Heated Debate
