HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Washington County Chamber of Commerce will host a discussion on the economic benefits and community challenges of data centers during its Eggs and Issues program Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Hagerstown Community College.
Breakfast begins at 6:45 a.m., followed by the program at 7:30 a.m. in rooms 211 and 213 of the college’s CPB Building, 11400 Robinwood Drive. Attendees should use Parking Lot F.
Joe Kroboth III, deputy county administrator for Loudoun County, Virginia, will present “Data Centers: The Loudoun County Experience.” The program will examine lessons from a county that has become a major hub for the industry.
The discussion comes as Washington County and the surrounding region face growing interest in data center development. According to the chamber, the facilities can bring private investment, construction activity and tax revenue, while also raising questions about water and energy demands, infrastructure, land use and effects on nearby neighborhoods.
Loudoun County was among the first communities in the country to embrace the industry. The chamber’s event announcement says the county has more than 230 data center facilities operating or in development, with data centers accounting for nearly 40% of its tax base and generating approximately $1.3 billion in annual tax revenue.
That growth has also brought concerns about noise, backup diesel generators, electric transmission lines and facilities near residential neighborhoods. Loudoun County is revisiting land-use regulations and development standards based on its experience with the industry, according to the announcement.
Kroboth was directly involved in managing infrastructure and public policy challenges associated with that growth. A Hagerstown native who still lives in the area, he previously served as Washington County’s public works director, according to the chamber’s announcement and speaker biography.
His earlier Washington County roles included deputy chief engineer and the county’s first director of fire and emergency services. In Loudoun County, he served as director of transportation and capital infrastructure before entering county administration, according to the biography provided for the event.
The chamber said the program is intended to inform discussion rather than advocate for or against data centers. A question-and-answer session is scheduled for 8:45 a.m.
Loudoun County’s data center webpage offers fact sheets, maps of existing and proposed facilities, planning and zoning resources, and information about public participation and reporting noise concerns.
Registration is available through the chamber’s website at hagerstown.org. The Chamber Foundation is sponsoring the event.
