Our 25th post in the continuing series on the data center industry in Frederick County, Maryland revisits the precious commodity of water. Over the past several months, I’ve written two articles examining one of the most common questions surrounding the Quantum Frederick campus: How much water do data centers really use? Those articles explained how...
This is the 24th article in MacRo’s ongoing series examining the proposed data center industry in Frederick County. The purpose of this article is to explain the recent procedural action taken by the County Executive—not to advocate for or against that decision. When County Executive Jessica Fitzwater recently asked the Maryland Rural Legacy Board to...
Frederick County’s commercial real estate market continued its strong momentum during the second quarter of 2026, with 42 land and commercial transactions totaling nearly $145 million. Total sales reached $144.6 million, surpassing the approximately $103 million recorded during the first quarter and reflecting continued confidence across a remarkably diverse range of property types. Unlike markets...
This is the twenty-third article in a series examining the technology, infrastructure, and development of data centers in Frederick County’s Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone (CDI-OZ). For this post, it’s time to get a bit technical! In my June 22 piece, “Data Center Backup Generators: Separating Fact from Fiction,” I explained why hyperscale facilities continue...
Leasing activity accelerates sharply in the second quarter, fueled by large industrial and flex transactions while retail demand remains strong in Frederick County, Maryland. The Frederick County commercial real estate market recorded 37 lease transactions during the second quarter of 2026, according to CoStar data compiled by MacRo Ltd. Leasing activity more than doubled the...
County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has heard the voters. She has taken steps to address their data center concerns; so, what should come next? With the 2026 Frederick County Primary Election now behind us, one thing has become abundantly clear: regardless of where one stands on data centers, many Frederick County voters wanted their concerns to...
Every election tells a story. The results of Frederick County’s 2026 primary election suggest that, beyond the individual candidates, many voters were expressing their views on how data center development has unfolded over the past several years. The votes have now been counted, and one message from Frederick County’s primary election is difficult to ignore....
Over the past several months, Rocky Mackintosh has written a series of articles designed to help residents better understand what is actually happening within Frederick County’s CDI-OZ Data Center District. This twentieth installment focuses on one of the most frequently discussed—and often misunderstood—components of modern data centers: backup power generators. Why Backup Generators Exist Among...
With the June primary election underway, Quantum Frederick and the CDI-OZ Overlay have become central topics in county politics. Candidates, activists, and residents have raised concerns about water consumption, electric demand, diesel generators, transparency, farmland preservation, and the long-term impact of data centers on Frederick County. Public debate is healthy and necessary. Large-scale projects deserve...
This is the fifth in a series of MacRo Report articles examining candidates and issues in the 2026 Frederick County election cycle. Frederick County Council District 3 lies primarily on the western and northwestern side of the City of Frederick. It encompasses key precincts including areas around Hillcrest, Waverley, Whittier, and Monocacy Elementary/Middle Schools. As...