Data Centers in Charles County

Data centers are crucial in powering the digital world, supporting everything from internet speed to daily business applications. Charles County is a competitive destination for technology investment, and data centers present a unique opportunity to drive economic growth, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen local infrastructure.

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) provide information on the economic, technological, and infrastructure considerations associated with data centers in the county. They include discussions of potential tax revenue, job creation, improvements to broadband access, and the impact on the local technology ecosystem, as related to local businesses and residents.

What is a data center?

A data center is a facility that stores, manages, and processes large amounts of data, supporting cloud services, internet infrastructure, and enterprise applications. Data centers are critical for hosting websites and applications and supporting data-driven services that businesses and consumers rely on daily.

What are the economic benefits of data centers?

Data centers generate significant tax revenue, create job opportunities, enhance broadband access and digital infrastructure, diversify the local economy, and provide long-term economic stability.

How do data centers impact network speed and availability?

Data centers require an increased network presence, which enhances broadband access and ultimately leads to improved network speed and availability. This boosts the county’s technological capacity, benefiting residents, small businesses, and government facilities.

Why do data centers matter for Charles County?

When it comes to the digital economy, attracting data centers signals to other technology companies that Charles County is open for business! Attracting data centers would help balance Charles County’s tax base with more commercial/industrial revenue. As the commercial tax base grows, businesses contribute more property tax revenue, which helps fund essential services such as schools, roads, public safety, parks, and libraries. With businesses championing a larger share of the tax burden, there's less pressure to raise taxes on residents, which fosters economic vitality and makes the community a better place to live.

How will data centers affect job creation and workforce development?

The construction of data centers creates hundreds of skilled trade jobs. Once operational, the permanent jobs tend to pay significantly above the median county wage, helping to attract and retain tech talent within Charles County and reducing out-commuting.

What is the environmental impact of a data center?

Modern data centers are committed to carbon-neutral operations and are becoming increasingly energy-efficient. Many facilities use renewable energy sources, advanced cooling technologies, and energy management systems to reduce their environmental footprint. They also tend to be low-traffic, low-noise facilities, making them more compatible with nearby residential areas than industrial or logistics facilities.

How much power do data centers require, and how is it managed?

Data centers require substantial and reliable power, but modern facilities are committed to carbon-neutral operations and are becoming increasingly energy-efficient.

Are data centers noisy?

Data centers tend to be low-noise facilities, making them compatible with nearby residential areas. They can generate noise due to cooling systems and backup equipment, but are designed to comply with local noise regulations.

Are data centers the same as crypto mining facilities?

Crypto mining facilities verify cryptocurrency transactions, whereas data centers support storing, processing, and distributing large amounts of data. Crypto mining facilities can produce a significant amount of noise and heat.

Why is Charles County an attractive location for data centers?

Charles County’s proximity to Washington, D.C., access to reliable power and fiber infrastructure, and lower land costs make it an ideal location for data centers. Anchored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD), the county offers a secure data infrastructure that supports federal contractors, DoD needs, and growing cloud hosting demands.

What are the long-term economic effects of housing data centers?

Data centers provide long-term stability for the tax base and employment. These centers are recession-resilient investments because demand for data and cloud services continues to grow, even in economic downturns. They create a technology ecosystem that drives higher wages, expands local career pathways, and fosters entrepreneurship in related sectors. This aligns with Charles County’s need for economic diversification to reduce over-reliance on commuter residents and government employment.