06/09/26

In This Newsletter

• Data Center Referendum Lawsuit Update

• Election Candidate Questions

• Landmark Barnstormers Tour

Data Center Referendum Update

The legal battle continues. Will Frederick County residents get to decide elections and ballot initiatives in the county, or will out-of-state and corporate interests override the more than 21,000 residents who signed the petition to bring the data center expansion to a vote?

This week, on June 12th, is the court date. Two trials relating to the two ways that mega-corporate interests have challenged our right to vote in our elections will take place starting at 8:30 am at the Frederick Circuit Court at 100 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701.

Sugarloaf Alliance has offered many reasons to oppose the data center zone expansion. For some background, read here and here.

Let's be clear: Multiple out-of-state large corporations are suing the Frederick County Board of Elections and the Referendum Committee in order to prescribe what Frederick County voters can and cannot vote on.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Attend the Trial: The trial is open to the public. A full, respectful courtroom can help to indicate a community's investment in the trials. While the courtroom is not a place for protest, our quite presence can still send a message.

• DONATIONS: Legal efforts are expensive. Donate online at their website, or by check payable to FCDC Referendum Committee. The check can be hand delivered to a committee member or mailed to FCDC Referendum Committee, PO Box 41, Buckeystown, MD 21717.

Background:

On April 3, the Frederick County Board of Elections (BOE) verified 21,029 signatures and found that the data center referendum petition is legally sufficient to place the issue on the ballot. The data center referendum petition was circulated by opponents of the County Council's 12/23 decision to double the size of the acreage available in Adamstown for data centers.

On April 10, the Referendum Committee learned the BOE decision had been appealed. Five separate organizations have now filed suit against the Board of Elections and some of these suits have also included the Referendum Committee as defendants. According to The Frederick News-Post:

"(T)he companies are Quantum Maryland, LLC; Windridge Properties, L. C.; NDR Properties, LLC; Frederick Data Owner, LLC; and three different LLCs under the Rowan Frederick name.

"Four of the cases include individual petitioners described as registered voters of Frederick County. Those are Joan Aquilino, Justin Cassity, Theodore Butz and David Pleasants."

The Referendum Committee retained counsel at the beginning of March and prepared for the possibility of this legal challenge.

On April 21st, the legal counsel of one of those corporations indicated to the Referendum Committee' s attorney that the Committee’s attorney also represented a parent company of one of the corporations in another case. With this strategic disclosure of connections, the Committee’s attorney felt he had no choice but to stop representing the referendum committee. On Friday, April 24th, he recused himself.

That same day, one of the plaintiffs suing the board of election petitioned the court for emergency relief to speed along the legal proceedings. On April 25th, the referendum committee was served with this notice.

The referendum committee was able to find new counsel, Keller and Heckman LLP of Washington DC, a large and highly capable firm with a proven history of success in environmental law, public policy, and litigation.

The Committee continues to believe that the ordinance is subject to a referendum and, if necessary, the Committee will take the issue to the highest court in Maryland. The case has to be completed by late July due to the printing deadline for getting the possible referendum on the ballot.

Candidate Questions

Sugarloaf Alliance invited all candidates for local offices to reply to a questionnaire seeking their positions on issues of interest to SA members: environmental stewardship, transparency in government, and data center siting and regulation. Visit our website to read our questions and candidates’ responses. Early voting for the primary election starts on the 11th.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• Check the answers of the candidates for which you can vote against your own values. Early voting for the primary election starts on the 11th.

2026 Barnstormers Tour Located in Adamstown

Sugarloaf Alliance is participating in the 2026 Barnstormers Tour (with an ad and a table) on June 13 because the tour has been located in Adamstown, adjacent to the data centers under construction.

This popular self-guided tour of historic barns brings awareness to the public of Frederick County's strong agricultural heritage and how barns were constructed to last. Barn docents will greet ticket holders at each barn location to share information and answer questions. During this time, artists and crafters will be creating at the barns.

It promises to be an enjoyable and educational day!

You can get information and tickets here.

DATE & HOURS:

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Tour (10:00 am – 3:00 pm)

Art Show and Sale, Music, Food (3:00 – 5:00 pm)

The Sugarloaf Alliance represents more than 675 stakeholders in the Sugarloaf region. The Alliance’s mission is to protect the unique natural and historical aspects of the Sugarloaf Mountain area and its environment through education and initiatives in support of watersheds, streams, meadows, forests, and historic sites. Working with volunteers, civic groups, and local, state, and federal agencies, the organization’s primary goal is to preserve the unique character and serenity of the area for future generations.  Sugarloaf Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Steve Black, President

Blanca and Steve Poteat, Vice Presidents

Nick Carrera, Treasurer

James Coulombe, Secretary

Check out our site