County hears presentation on data centers, utility and environmental concerns

A county administrator from Mecklenburg County, Virginia, described his jurisdiction’s experience hosting data centers and the local impacts that followed, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners heard during an informational briefing Jan. 28.

The speaker, identified in materials as Alex Gottschalk, outlined that his county has been involved with data centers since about 2008 and discussed cooling system choices, saying some operations use open-loop systems that draw water from local sources rather than closed-loop systems. The presentation emphasized coordination with utility companies and the potential for higher electric bills at a local and statewide level.

Unidentified Speaker relayed that Gottschalk framed many of the concerns as similar to those raised by Calvert County residents: water use, electricity demand and related environmental considerations. The board described the briefing as informational only and said it is seeking more information before taking action.

The presentation did not include a formal proposal or vote. Commissioners indicated they were “trying to learn as much as we possibly can about the data centers before we do go forward,” and said discussion has been “a roller coaster” as they weigh constituent concerns.

Next steps, as described at the meeting, are further study and coordination with utilities and stakeholders; no commitments or formal approvals were recorded during the synopsis.