Activist Stalls Data Center Plan, Calls for County Ban
Anti-data center activist halts $5B project in Maryland, sparks county-wide debate.
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An anti-data center activist in Maryland has played a pivotal role in halting a $5 billion data center project near Washington, D.C., and now demands a county-wide ban on such developments. Taylor Frazier McCollum, known as ‘the Landover girl,’ launched a petition that gathered over 25,000 signatures against the proposed facility at the former Landover Mall site. Her efforts led to local moratoriums and a broader movement that influenced 23 percent of voters in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to CNN’s exit poll.
McCollum expressed her opposition to the project, stating, “Oh, hell no,” and questioned the logic of placing water-polluting, diesel-generating data centers near residential areas. Her petition and subsequent protests contributed to the moratoriums, leaving the Landover data center on hold. The county, facing economic challenges such as a budget deficit and job loss, is now under pressure to address its economic future, according to Council Member Wanika Fisher.
McCollum’s activism began after she was evicted from her apartment in 2024 and moved in with her grandfather, where she learned about the proposed data center. She now advocates for a county-wide ban on data centers, aiming to set a precedent for the nation. Lerner Enterprises, the developer behind the project, did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
Lacy McCollum Jr., her father, compared her efforts to those of civil rights activists, emphasizing the importance of data centers as a matter of ‘right’ to water, air, and homes. “We needed the Medgar Evers. We needed the Martin Luther Kings. We needed the Malcolm X’s. People like Taylor, they jump out here so the people behind them get to make progress,” he said.
McCollum also highlighted concerns about environmental racism, noting that the data center’s placement in Landover is intentional, given the presence of other industrial facilities like FedEx Field. She collaborated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a Marxist-Leninist organization with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, to spread her message. The PSL’s post featured her comments, emphasizing the community’s concerns about the project.
Same thing happened in Western NY. Local IG Reels activist fomented outrage against a data center proposed for an abandoned steel and coke processing plant. Killed the project https://t.co/Qe4XmFCx3k
The anti-data center petition highlighted the county’s failure to consult residents before approving the project. “The old Landover Mall site holds a special place in our community’s history and hearts,” the petition stated, warning of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. Similarly, a $2 billion data center in Tonawanda, New York, was blocked by a state moratorium, with activists questioning the decision as a rejection of AI infrastructure.
Source: Daily Caller
