AWS Explores Major Data Center Campus Adjacent to Maryland Nuclear Power Plant

AWS Explores Major Data Center Campus Adjacent to Maryland Nuclear Power Plant April 1, 2026 Amazon Web Services (AWS) is exploring the development of a significant data center campus in Calvert County, Maryland, with a site selection strategy that highlights the industry's intensifying focus on securing reliable, large-scale power sources. The move underscores a critical trend as cloud and data center operators increasingly target locations near existing generation assets, particularly nuclear plants, to power their energy-intensive facilities amid growing grid constraints and sustainability goals. According to local reports, AWS presented initial concept plans during a recent community meeting, though the company has not yet submitted a formal proposal. The envisioned campus would be developed in partnership with Constellation Energy and situated near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant at 1650 Calvert Cliffs Parkway. Preliminary work, including regulatory analysis and site evaluation, has been conducted. A shared concept design indicates the campus could eventually comprise up to eight data center buildings on land south and west of the nuclear facility, which is already zoned for heavy industrial use. While specific details on building dimensions or IT capacity remain undisclosed, the proximity to the 1.7-gigawatt nuclear plant raises the possibility of a direct, behind-the-meter power connection—a highly coveted arrangement for ensuring clean, stable electricity. This exploration aligns with AWS's broader expansion strategy in the region, following its April 2025 announcement to grow its US East cloud footprint into Maryland at a site approximately 100 miles away, and its plans to land the Fastnet subsea cable in the state. The potential development, however, is not without controversy or competition. Local planning commissioner Mike Hart recently motioned for a 24-month moratorium on all data center approvals pending a comprehensive environmental study, citing concerns from residents about transparency and community impact. Simultaneously, real estate firm Natelli Holdings has expressed interest in developing a separate, four-building data center campus on nearby land, committing an estimated $30 million in investment. This activity signals Calvert County's emergence as a new battleground where the economic promise of data center investment meets growing local scrutiny over environmental and infrastructural implications. Source: datacenterdynamics