At the MACo Winter Conference, the Large County Coalition (LCC) focused on a fast-accelerating issue for counties nationwide: the rapid expansion of data center development and its impacts on residents, land use, energy infrastructure, local services, and long-term planning.
With demand surging for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity infrastructure, counties now sit at the center of land use, energy, and long-term planning decisions that carry real fiscal and community impacts.
Prince George’s County Council Member and LCC President Wanika Fisher moderated a packed luncheon discussion that framed data centers as a significant opportunity carrying real local implications for Maryland’s largest counties. She emphasized that counties host the infrastructure, manage land use decisions, and address community impacts as projects take shape.
Full House at #MACoCon as Large County Coalition President @WanikaFisher leads a sharp, candid conversation on #Maryland’s fast-growing data center landscape. #Counties sit at the center of rising demand for AI, cloud, and cybersecurity.#MDpolitics #datacenters pic.twitter.com/b3uKgZBNNZ
— Kevin Kinnally (@KKinnally_MACo) December 11, 2025
Developer Perspective on Data Center Growth and County Coordination
Michael Kuykendall, senior vice president at Catellus Development Corporation, provided an industry perspective on the forces driving the rapid expansion of data centers across the region.
He explained how accelerating demand for computing power continues to reshape the market and why Maryland’s location, workforce, and existing infrastructure place it squarely in the development pipeline.
Kuykendall highlighted Catellus’s role in leading the development of the Quantum Maryland project in Frederick County and emphasized the importance of early coordination with county governments.
He pointed to positive experiences working with Frederick County on infrastructure planning, siting decisions, and community considerations as projects move from concept to construction.
Kuykendall also addressed the realities counties manage as projects scale. Power availability, transmission planning, emergency response coordination, and compatibility with surrounding communities all influence whether a data center development succeeds in the long term.
Kuykendall stressed that transparent local processes, coordination with utilities, and sustained collaboration between counties and developers help avoid friction and delays as projects advance.
Throughout the discussion, county leaders raised practical concerns about zoning decisions, siting authority, utility coordination, and the pace of project progress relative to available infrastructure.
The conversation emphasized that while data centers can deliver significant tax base growth and capital investment, counties must balance those benefits against long-term service demands and community expectations.
The LCC conversation kept coming back to the same point: counties need to be involved early, not after decisions are already in motion. Clear communication with utilities and developers is essential, and counties need sufficient flexibility to manage growth in ways that make sense for local communities while still supporting regional economic development.
The meeting took place on Thursday, December 11, 2025, during the MACo Winter Conference at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge.
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