Calvert commissioners set early rules for prospective data centers after Mecklenburg briefing

Calvert County commissioners moved to set preliminary requirements for any data center that might seek to locate in the county, after a detailed briefing from Mecklenburg County, Va., officials about that county’s experience with campus-style data-center development.

Alex Goshock, a Mecklenburg County supervisor invited to speak to the board, said the county’s long-term approach to data-center campuses transformed an old state-owned property and produced large taxable value. "That particular campus is, worth well over $1,000,000,000 in real estate assessment valuation," Goshock told commissioners, who used that revenue to fund capital projects including a multi-hundred-million‑dollar school construction program.

Commissioner Hans moved that Calvert require closed‑loop cooling systems for any future data center, ban drilling wells for cooling, mandate capture of roof runoff for cooling reuse, require developers to pay all related infrastructure costs, and require Tier 4 emissions controls for backup generators. "I would make a motion that we start the process to mandate that any data center coming to Calvert County use a closed‑loop cooling system because that greatly reduces the water that they need," Hans said. The motion, which commissioners supplemented with a requirement that staff pursue a zoning text amendment to give the rules legal effect and schedule a work session for further detail, passed by voice vote.

In discussion commissioners pressed staff on enforcement and timing; county attorney and planning staff advised the board that the provisions would be implemented through a text amendment and related zoning changes. The board scheduled a work session for Feb. 10 to refine the policy and asked staff to return with draft language and legal options.

The board also directed staff to explore retaining an on‑call data‑center consultant to identify qualified firms and fee structures and to report back with procurement and budget options; that exploratory action does not obligate funds until the board approves a contract. Commissioner Hans made the exploratory motion; staff confirmed any contract would require a subsequent budget adjustment and public notice.

What happens next: staff will draft the proposed text amendment and return with options and cost estimates at the February work session. If approved, the zoning change would be the mechanism that gives the board’s requirements legal force.