Bauxite II and Bauxite III data centers (Rowan)
Also called: Rowan Bauxite II, Rowan Bauxite III, Amazon IAD-534 to IAD-537
Rowan plans two more data center sites (Bauxite II and III) on the Quantum Frederick campus, about 1.4 million sq ft in total. Amazon has applied for 99 more diesel backup generators for buildings at 3300 Radiant Way, which a tracker links to Bauxite II.
Where things stand: County planners reviewed both site plans in Dec. 2024 (valid to Dec. 2027). Amazon applied for 99 more diesel generators at 3300 Radiant Way in Feb. 2026.
🕒 Latest update (May 28, 2026): State held a public meeting on Amazon's generator permit application.
What we know
- 📍 WhereQuantum Frederick Section 1, Lots 302 and 102 near Adamstown; Amazon's permit names 3300 Radiant Way, Frederick, Unincorporated Frederick County, Frederick County
- 🏢 CompanyRowan Digital Infrastructure
- 👤 Built forAmazon (reported)
- 🌳 Size166.6 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromGrid power from Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy).
- 🛢️ Diesel generators99
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Has the state decided on Amazon's generator permit for 3300 Radiant Way? 🙋 I'll find out
- How many megawatts will Bauxite II and III use? 🙋 I'll find out
- Which Bauxite site is at 3300 Radiant Way? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Dec 11, 2024Planning Commission took up site plans for Bauxite II (822,620 sq ft on 111.5 acres) and Bauxite III (591,913 sq ft on 55 acres); staff had no objection to conditional approval.
- Feb 23, 2026Amazon applied to the state for an air permit for 99 diesel generators for buildings IAD-534 to IAD-537 at 3300 Radiant Way.
- May 28, 2026State held a public meeting on Amazon's generator permit application.
Local votes and rules
🤝 Agreement with the company
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater turned down a $110 million community benefits deal with Catellus, the Quantum Frederick developer, after residents raised concerns. The deal included money for a school, a park, job training and a fire engine.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater ordered the county to stop taking or reviewing applications for new data centers and their substations. It was first set to end Dec. 31, 2026. In September 2026 she extended it to July 1, 2027. Projects approved before June 2025, including the current Quantum Frederick projects, are not affected.
⚖️ Court case
Residents gathered more than 21,000 signatures to put the data center zone map to a public vote. Data center companies and landowners sued. A circuit judge and then the Maryland Supreme Court ruled the map could not go on the ballot. The court said the map is not a law that can be put to a vote, and the petition was unclear.
⚖️ Court case
Nearby residents asked a court to review the state air permit for Amazon's diesel backup generators at the Quantum Frederick campus, citing health, noise and air monitoring.
🗺️ Zoning change
The county council voted 5-2 to approve the map of the data center zone: about 2,600 acres north of Adamstown, around the Quantum Frederick campus and the old Alcoa Eastalco plant. That is over 1,000 acres more than the planning commission suggested.
📜 Data center rules
The county council voted 5-2 for Bill 25-09. It creates a special 'overlay' zone. Data centers and their power substations can only be built on land inside this zone. The zone can cover at most 1% of the county, about 4,200 acres.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Frederick County Planning Commission, December 11, 2024 (Bauxite II and Bauxite III site plans) · Frederick County Government · Dec 11, 2024
- Notice of Air Quality Permit to Construct Application and Public Informational Meeting (Amazon IAD-534 to IAD-537) · Maryland Department of the Environment · May 1, 2026
- Maryland data centers · Cleanview · 2026
- Quantum Frederick, Frederick County, MD: Maryland Data Center Series, Pt. 3 · Nature Forward · June 26, 2026
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