Dickerson Plant site lies right along the C+O Canal and Potomac River
Update 10/19/24: MCA submitted a document of public concerns to the hearing examiner about missing specifics on how this proposal will fit into county and state climate goals and the Potomac's water level, among other concerns. The applicant's attorney wants these concerns (your concerns) stricken from the record.
Senator Cardin's Letter to Governor Moore urging caution on Data Center development is a good distillation of the concerns many share about this new, highly consumptive industry. The Senator also wrote to the PSC urging caution and transparency in the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project - a massive power line set to take farmland out of production across Frederick, Carrol and Baltimore Counties.
These two issues are linked - as the Guardian has found that Data Center power needs - already known to be constant and massive - are actually under reported by 600+%.
Coverage from Maryland Matters
These two issues are linked - as the Guardian has found that Data Center power needs - already known to be constant and massive - are actually under reported by 600+%.
Coverage from Maryland Matters
Update: Planning staff have recommended approval with conditions for the Terra Energy project at Dickerson along the river for what look to be seven data centers to start and just shy 500,000 ft.² of building space which includes warehouse space and substations. That does not include roadways, etc.
The approval allows this project to proceed without full details from the applicant. There is a lot we still want to know - for example- how much Potomac River water will be diverted for the constant cooling needed for servers? The application and staff recommendation is silent on this and other points. Please stay tuned for ways to get involved.
The approval allows this project to proceed without full details from the applicant. There is a lot we still want to know - for example- how much Potomac River water will be diverted for the constant cooling needed for servers? The application and staff recommendation is silent on this and other points. Please stay tuned for ways to get involved.
Related - Proposals for a large powerline to go through Frederick County proposed protected area near Sugarloaf cause concern. The increased need for power infrastructure can be connected to the outsized power needs of proposed data centers - an industry with few guardrails. Maryland Matter piece here.
Update: Data Center Emissions Exemption Passes MCA with partners opposed a bill in the General Assembly that would allow diesel generators of any size, and quantity in any location to provide backup power to data centers without oversight of the Public Service Commission. With the addition of a provision to provide 15% of tax revenues from this novel land use to fund environmental protection, the bill passed before the end of the session. Learn More.
Related: WaPo: Internet data centers are fueling drive to old power source: Coal
Grist: The Surging Demand for Data is Guzzling Virginia's Water Supply
Montgomery County Data Center Updates:
Currently no regulatory framework exists in the state or county to govern data centers. County Executive Elrich is now working with the county climate change officer to establish one in MoCo. The first step is researching best practices in use nationally and globally for sustainably meeting the outsized needs for water, land and power of this unique use. (Iceland, for example)
MCA continues to collaborate with the owners of the Terra Energy facility proposed for the former Pepco plant to advocate for care in siting and operation of these centers along the Potomac.
Quantum Loophole continues to run afoul of MDE rules - The Frederick News Post reports a stop work order was issued for a drilling project in Frederick County for the fiberoptic cable loop stretching from Adamstown across to "Data Center Alley" in Virginia. The contractor was drilling without telling the county and may have released drilling materials into underground water aquifers. To link the two updates - Quantum Loophole at full buildout will use power equivalent to 400,000 homes (12 Fredericks or 4 Baltimores).
Frederick County Data Center Workgroup Report Released
from our partners at Sugarloaf Alliance:
"The Frederick County Data Centers Workgroup (DCWG) released its final report on March 1 (read the text here). Generally speaking, the recommendations agree with Sugarloaf Alliance positions, including the recommendation that data centers not be sited in Treasured Landscapes, and the report specifically mentions Sugarloaf Mountain. Read the Frederick News Post report here. The report is in the hands of the County Executive, and her administration is expected to make recommendations for legislation governing data centers in Frederick County. We still don’t have information about legislation or timing."
Related: WaPo: Internet data centers are fueling drive to old power source: Coal
Grist: The Surging Demand for Data is Guzzling Virginia's Water Supply
Montgomery County Data Center Updates:
Currently no regulatory framework exists in the state or county to govern data centers. County Executive Elrich is now working with the county climate change officer to establish one in MoCo. The first step is researching best practices in use nationally and globally for sustainably meeting the outsized needs for water, land and power of this unique use. (Iceland, for example)
MCA continues to collaborate with the owners of the Terra Energy facility proposed for the former Pepco plant to advocate for care in siting and operation of these centers along the Potomac.
Quantum Loophole continues to run afoul of MDE rules - The Frederick News Post reports a stop work order was issued for a drilling project in Frederick County for the fiberoptic cable loop stretching from Adamstown across to "Data Center Alley" in Virginia. The contractor was drilling without telling the county and may have released drilling materials into underground water aquifers. To link the two updates - Quantum Loophole at full buildout will use power equivalent to 400,000 homes (12 Fredericks or 4 Baltimores).
Frederick County Data Center Workgroup Report Released
from our partners at Sugarloaf Alliance:
"The Frederick County Data Centers Workgroup (DCWG) released its final report on March 1 (read the text here). Generally speaking, the recommendations agree with Sugarloaf Alliance positions, including the recommendation that data centers not be sited in Treasured Landscapes, and the report specifically mentions Sugarloaf Mountain. Read the Frederick News Post report here. The report is in the hands of the County Executive, and her administration is expected to make recommendations for legislation governing data centers in Frederick County. We still don’t have information about legislation or timing."
Check out this video from our friends across the Potomac, Piedmont Environmental Council. Virginia has been building data centers for decades and we can learn from their experience.
Data centers alone are expected to double Virginia's energy use by 2040. Who pays for increased energy capacity? Hint- it's not the data center operators. In fact Marylanders could be paying for $500 million of the tab for grid improvements to support VA's data center spree.
This new energy and water intensive use needs careful guiderails on our side of the River. Read on for how we are engaging stakeholders to share concerns and recommendations for a proposal in the Ag Reserve.
Data centers alone are expected to double Virginia's energy use by 2040. Who pays for increased energy capacity? Hint- it's not the data center operators. In fact Marylanders could be paying for $500 million of the tab for grid improvements to support VA's data center spree.
This new energy and water intensive use needs careful guiderails on our side of the River. Read on for how we are engaging stakeholders to share concerns and recommendations for a proposal in the Ag Reserve.
- Also- why so many Data Centers? Turns out AI is a huge driver of climate change.
Update: 1/24: The conditional use application for these data centers proposed by Terra Energy is now at Planning (view the plan here).
We are meeting with Planning staff to share our thoughts which include concern about lack of specific information about project. Applicant indicates they will provide details later after approval.
We are meeting with Planning staff to share our thoughts which include concern about lack of specific information about project. Applicant indicates they will provide details later after approval.
Update: 12/23 Terra (the company proposing the data centers) has shared their conditional use submission documents with both SCA and MCA. We appreciate that. The application (for data centers and battery back up project) is currently being reviewed by staff at the planning department.
Our review of the documents submitted raises concerns, primarily as to the material that has not been included. The applicant apparently is looking for preliminary approval before submitting all required application components. This is troubling as one rightly asked how something can be approved without knowing the salient details. Stay tuned for more.
Maryland Matters did a great background of why data centers cause so much concern
Our review of the documents submitted raises concerns, primarily as to the material that has not been included. The applicant apparently is looking for preliminary approval before submitting all required application components. This is troubling as one rightly asked how something can be approved without knowing the salient details. Stay tuned for more.
Maryland Matters did a great background of why data centers cause so much concern
News from FredCo - Aligned, the company behind one of the proposed data center projects in Adamstown was not successful in getting approval to use 168 (!) diesel generators to complete construction of the project and have canceled the project. It is unclear at this time what impact this has on the Terra energy site proposed in Dickerson along the river.
Update: We await the submission of the conditional use application by Terra. We are also awaiting reply from County Executive regarding request for committee to establish regulatory framework to guide data center development.
Montgomery Countryside Alliance and our partners at Sugarloaf Citizens Association are continuing to carefully monitor the proposal as many as 20 data centers and a large scale grid battery storage facility at the former PEPCO Power Plant in Dickerson. The new property owner Terra Innovations will file for conditional use approval for the project very soon.
Here are the concerns and recommendations submitted by both organizations to the applicant.
We continue to advocate for both state and county regulations to guide this land use. Currently the data center land-use does not have a regulatory framework.
Here are the concerns and recommendations submitted by both organizations to the applicant.
We continue to advocate for both state and county regulations to guide this land use. Currently the data center land-use does not have a regulatory framework.
Some maps from the Terra Innovations site showing property boundaries and zoning:
Pieces of this property are part of the Ag Reserve as shown above
Much More:
Community Meeting with SCA, MCA and Sugarloaf Alliance on Data Center Concerns
Northern VA has a Data Center Problem
Data Centers in N VA are nearing a tipping point
Quantum Loophole to Bore under Potomac is 3 places to lay data center infrastructure
Quantum Loophole cited for many MDE violations - stop work order issued
Community Meeting with SCA, MCA and Sugarloaf Alliance on Data Center Concerns
Northern VA has a Data Center Problem
Data Centers in N VA are nearing a tipping point
Quantum Loophole to Bore under Potomac is 3 places to lay data center infrastructure
Quantum Loophole cited for many MDE violations - stop work order issued
