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Solomons resident urges caution on data center deals, warns of hidden costs
Summary
A Solomons resident urged Calvert County commissioners to be wary of proposed data processing centers, warning of potential long‑term budgetary, energy and water impacts and urging workforce and environmental safeguards if negotiations proceed.
A Solomons resident told Calvert County commissioners on June 10 that the county faces a “hedge you lose, tails you lose” scenario if it pursues agreements with proposed data processing centers, warning of potential long‑term fiscal, energy and water supply costs and urging conditions to protect residents.
Leonard Souza, speaking during public comment on behalf of “Concerned Citizens of Solomons,” said state and federal downgrades and budget shortfalls increase the risk that short‑term payments or pilot agreements would be offset by reduced state support in future years. Souza cited the 2024 Maryland Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act by name when describing the regulatory background and argued that initial local benefits could turn into long‑term liabilities.
“Require the data center management to identify the technical skills they will need and insist that the data centers fund and support such classes at the College of Southern Maryland so that county residents could qualify for these positions,” Souza urged. He also recommended that the county insist the companies bear the cost of electrical upgrades and avoid using groundwater for cooling, or require alternative cooling methods if groundwater would be used.
Souza warned that in other jurisdictions the infrastructure upgrade costs tied to data centers have been passed on to nearby residents in the form of higher energy costs; he also raised concerns that heavy groundwater extraction could stress the aquifers supplying Southern Maryland. He recommended workforce development at the College of Southern Maryland to build local qualifications for technical jobs.
The comment closed without an immediate response recorded on the transcript. Souza said he would provide a written copy of his remarks to county staff.
The comment is part of ongoing public discussion in Calvert County about potential data center proposals; commissioners have heard presentations on the topic in prior meetings and some have expressed support while acknowledging regulatory and fiscal tradeoffs.
