That’s according to Council President Brad Young.
Frederick, Md (KM) Data centers are being touted in Maryland as a good revenue source for state and local governments. Frederick County Council President Brad Young discussed that during a recent appearance on WFMD’s “Morning News Express.”
“We need an additional tax revenue source in Frederick County,” he says. “Right now, over 80 percent of our tax base comes on the backs of residential homeowner taxes, and we have to find additional ways of getting some businesses in Frederick County to support taxes that don’t put that burden on the residences.”
Young says data centers are permitted in Frederick County in areas zoned limited industrial and general industrial. One is under construction at the former Eastalco site in Adamstown.
The Council held a hearing two weeks ago on a bill to put more regulations in place for data centers. It covers such issues as where they can be located, and stipulates standards for visual impacts, sound, vibration reporting, air pollution, environmental health considerations and acceptable areas for data center development. Young says a vote on this legislation is expected on May 6th..
In addition to being a good revenue source, Young says data centers can provide high paying, full time jobs. During the hearing, Young says members of the IBEW said they worked outside of Frederick County because they couldn’t afford living here. He summarized what they said. “Right now, we’re having to go to our jobs in Northern Virginia and DC. We want to live in Frederick County because it’s a great quality of life, but we have to go down the road to chase the money. Put those jobs in Frederick County.’ So this would do that, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Also, during the hearing, there were those who spoke out against data center in Frederick County. “The bill that Council Member {Renee} Knapp and I put forward actually puts a lot of additional requirements on data centers that are not in place now, “he says. “Now, unfortunately, they don’t go far enough for the folks who don’t want data centers.”
Many opponents point to Northern Virginia which has numerous data centers, and they don’t want Frederick County to be like that. Young says it won’t happen. “Northern Virginia before they’re done, will have over 200 data warehouses. I estimate at most if everything gets built out in Frederick County, we might have five,”: he says.
Young says some of these data centers are built close to residential areas in Northern Virginia. . But that was due to bad decisions on their part.. “They basically said ‘put ’em anywhere you want. We want the revenue. We’re willing to sell out our county and put these anywhere to get the revenue.’. That is not what we’re doing here in Frederick County,” he said.
By Kevin McManus