Sugarloaf Alliance
Preservation * Smarter Growth * Transparency in Government
Rowan NDA MPIA
Between at least August 9, 2023, and September 20, 2023, Frederick County negotiated a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Rowan Green Data LLC (also known as Rowan Digital Infrastructure). On September 20, 2023, Martin Romo, Rowan’s Senior Director of Economic Development Policy, emailed a signed copy of the NDA to Frederick County. The NDA was signed on September 21, 2023, by Morgan O’Neill, Rowan Green Data LLC’s AGC and Secretary.
The release of this information under an Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request has sparked significant public interest. The information released thus far by the county only tells the beginning of the story. There is no publicly available information thus far on the outcome of these NDA negotiations. No information has been released on the counties actions on the draft NDA.
Sugarloaf Alliance has a proven record of successful MPIA requests, having taken one case to the Maryland State Supreme Court and won for fees related to MPIA legal challenges.
As part of the Sugarloaf Alliance's mission to improve government openness and transparency, we have requested the rest of the details of this NDA negotiation. The alliance will widely distribute and make public the results of this MPIA request.
Board of Elections and Referendum Committee Sued by Data Center Companies
Data center companies are suing the Board of Elections and the Referendum Committee to prevent the expansion question from coming to a vote.
YOU joined the movement to overturn the data center Overlay Zone expansion.
21,029 signatures were validated on the Referendum Petition - 15,611 were required to put the question on the ballot.
Who will decide what we vote on in Frederick County?
MPRP
MPRP powerlines for data centers are projected to run through the Sugarloaf Plan area. The PSEG application is now before the Public Service Commission.
Referendum and Election Candidate Survey
The trial for the Data Center Referendum takes place on Friday at Frederick Circuit Court at 100 W Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701 at 9:30 am. We have gathered some of the trial documents for public viewing.
The 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. We have their responses.
Overlay Zone Expanded
The Overlay Zone legislation set up to 1% of county acreage to be available for data centers under this Overlay. The Planning Commission recommended limiting the Overlay to the existing Eastalco site and adjacent properties already planned to be industrial - a smaller area than the County Executive and staff proposed. On 12/23/25 the County
Council voted to expand the Overlay Zone, nearly doubling the area available to build data centers.
MPIA Request Results
Read the results of Sugarloaf Alliance's latest Maryland Public Information Request re data centers here. Governor's office asks for enforcement "leniency
2025 Reflections
2025 Reflections
2025 was a busy year! Click here to learn how Sugarloaf Alliance has contributed to smarter growth efforts in Frederick County and beyond.
Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia
Learn more about Hidden Costs of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia