Dan Cox demands statewide ban on new Maryland mega data centers

ADAMSTOWN, Md. (WBFF) — Community members and Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox gathered Wednesday to address the expansion of mega data centers and the controversy over new power transmission lines in Maryland.

WBFF has been following mounting concerns from Adamstown residents about the effects of these large-scale developments on families, farmers and property owners.

Local voices highlight the loss of farmland, air and water quality issues, noise, traffic and worries over children’s health, particularly with the proximity of hundreds of diesel generators near Carroll Manor Elementary School, where 500 students attend classes close to ongoing construction.

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“With the taking of our farmland, the taking of our property, the taking of our air quality, the taking and the sucking of our water supplies and the endangering of our children,” Cox said at the press conference. He attributed fast-tracked permits for these facilities to decisions made by Gov. Wes Moore and Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and called for immediate statewide action, including a halt to both current and future mega data center approvals.

Cox proposed a statewide ban and a temporary moratorium on new data center development, as well as a mandatory review of existing permits and environmental impacts.

He described the fast-track process as “many times done with NDAs or non-disclosure agreements,” and argued this was “unconscionable and it’s harmful to the community.” Cox pointed to reports of air pollution, dust, water contamination and increased traffic, saying state and county officials had ignored the community’s pleas for help.

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Watch his Oct. 21 press conference in the video above.

Local resident Hope Greene described persistent dust, air pollution and “chemicals in her water, including as the county has identified, by the way, forever chemicals have been found in at least six wells in this area.” Greene said the conditions have damaged her home’s value, making it hard to sell and she has received no compensation or buyout offer.

Jean Butler, a third-generation landowner and farmer, described work noise, trespassing and spotlights from the facility shining into his home at night. Butler said, “they’re visiting us. We’ve been invited. The county council that, Steve McKay has been there. We talked to Jerry Donald. But the other ones won’t come. They know what they sold us out to.” He shared concerns about possible effects on livestock and his inability to move his family business due to costs and declining property value.

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Elise Wilson, an Adamstown resident and advocate, spoke on behalf of neighbors within 500 feet of the data centers: “We have deep concerns regarding these diesel generators and the massive amount that will be affecting our community, these diesel generators. The average size is of a 26 foot moving truck. These are gigantic.” Wilson called for air quality monitoring around homes, not just the school, and said, “We just want not just Adamstown to be safe, but Maryland to be safe and the environment to be safe.” She cited other states, like Virginia, which have implemented stricter monitoring requirements and noted that local requests for similar measures have gone unanswered.

Frank Holloway, a candidate for county council, said the project’s impacts are not limited to Adamstown: “It’s not just going to be an Adams Town issue, it’s going to be a Brunswick issue. It’s going to be a Jefferson issue. You got power lines that are going through Dan district two, where it’s going to destroy land through intimate domain. And people are just saying, help me.”

Additional speakers said the use of eminent domain for new transmission lines would take private property and farmland, affecting families across Frederick County and beyond. Several called for meaningful compensation, independent assessments and fair buyouts for affected property owners. Others warned about water and air pollution, potential health risks from diesel exhaust and damage to the region’s rural character.

Cox criticized state and local leaders for what he called a lack of transparency and poor communication about the projects, citing reports of non-disclosure agreements and a community benefits agreement that local residents and candidates described as insufficient. He pledged to review and potentially rescind permits issued for such developments, conduct independent environmental testing and demand direct relief for affected families.

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Asked about his prior support for data center tax incentives as a state delegate, Cox responded, “Do I regret it? Well, certainly under this condition I don’t support that.” He said the scale and impact of today’s mega data centers are much different than when the legislation was passed.

Cox asserted that a governor could issue an executive order to enact a moratorium while pursuing legislative action for a permanent ban. He argued that current policies do not adequately protect communities, and said, “We need a statewide ban on new mega data centers. We need to enforce the law in Adamstown and across Maryland and we need to have remedies for established harm and we need to protect the families and children who live here.”

Residents called on elected officials to listen, prioritize safety and “do the right thing to help us.”