Overview
- Calvert County announced that Amazon Web Services has formally withdrawn its plan to build multiple data‑center campuses on land adjacent to the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant, a decision released by county officials on Tuesday.
- The county scheduled a public hearing for August 18 to consider a temporary six‑month moratorium on approving new data‑center site plans so officials can draft zoning changes and complete environmental and infrastructure studies.
- Voter opposition pressured the move after strong local activism and the June 23 primary election that removed three commissioners who had opposed pausing data‑center approvals.
- Constellation Energy, owner of the Calvert Cliffs site, said investment opportunities in digital infrastructure remain and other proposals such as a Natelli Holdings site along Route 4 are still under consideration.
- The withdrawal fits a broader Maryland trend of counties imposing pauses or bans over concerns about water use, noise, energy and land use, and it leaves open the possibility companies could revise and resubmit proposals if zoning rules change.