Sugarloaf Alliance
Preservation * Smarter Growth * Transparency in Government
Development near Sugarloaf (west of I-270 and north to the Monocacy River) should remain protected and free from commercial and industrial development. Check one
Strongly agree
A Green Infrastructure Plan should be completed and adopted before approving major new industrial rezonings. Check one.
Strongly Agree
I would like to understand more about what the Sugarloaf Alliance sees as an adequate Green Infrastructure Plan, but generally I agree that these decisions warrant cohesive plans that ensure we are careful stewards of the environment and uphold agricultural land.
If elected, do you pledge to never sign an NDA with a data center developer or other developer, nor to be bound by an NDA signed by another county official with a data center developer or any other developer? Check one.
Yes
Anyone serving in public office should have transparency as a top priority. There may be very limited circumstances that an NDA is warranted, but not for private interests.
County legislation should be developed to prohibit County Council members, the County Executive, and county staff from signing any NDA that restricts their ability to inform the public, deliberate openly, or carry out their public duties. Check one.
Agree
Except in very limited circumstances, I do not believe elected officials should be signing NDAs.
Frederick County should fund a thorough, independent cost-benefit analysis of data center impacts, specifically on Frederick County, regardless of any analysis that may be conducted by the State of Maryland on State level impacts. Check one.
Strongly agree
How many data centers should be built in Frederick County? Check the answer closest to your position.
4 (allow only the data centers currently under construction in Adamstown)
I do not support further AI data center construction. We are made to believe that AI and data centers are inevitable. And while AI could potentially be a useful tool, it is used to disenfranchise working people. Instead of lightening the load of someone struggling to afford just existing in this country, it’s being trained to eventually take their jobs so that billionaires and businesses can get just a little bit more profit.
What new county data center legislation would you endorse? Check all you support.
Increased distances to residences and public uses, Stricter noise limits, Stricter water use limits, Stricter design, height, and screening limits, Efficiency and power consumption limits, Full disclosure of electricity consumption, water consumption, height and footprint, backup generation capacity, noise and lighting impacts, and infrastructure needs and requirements of proposed data centers., An independent, third-party regularly monitoring data center operation (e.g. noise, water consumption) that reports its results publicly, including additional testing triggered by resident complaints or changes in operations., Mandatory corrective actions within a defined timeframe, with meaningful penalties or operational restrictions if compliance is not achieved (if post-construction monitoring shows a data center exceeds approved limits)., A moratorium on new data centers
What are your thoughts concerning environmental issues, preservation, development, transparency in government, and data centers in Frederick County? Describe any priorities, tradeoffs, or concerns that guide your thinking.
Generally, I do not think our county leaders have implemented strong environmental regulations. As corporations are some of the largest polluters, our leaders have put the burden of environmental safety on individuals. In the larger scheme, this is miniscule compared to the protections we could put in place. I think of the data center vote and lack of regulations around them. I support detailed studies on pre-and post-utility usage numbers, limiting further expansion, never approving increased water usage, and having them pay for their own energy.
I also don't believe balancing economic development with environmental sustainability is a zero-sum game. We can still create economic development and promote environmental sustainability. I think major projects, especially those that require major land use or are heavy-industrial, need independent cost-benefit analysis, and a stronger enforcement of more regulations on the developers.