Sierra Club - Catoctin Group

10/26/2026

Early voting continues this week, through to Thursday October 29th! Below is a list of the Sierra Club - Catoctin Group's endorsed candidates. Be sure to get out there and vote!

10/21/2026

Senator Karen Lewis Young for Senate and a volunteer work group are hosting a public presentation at Hood College on Monday, October 26th at 6:30 pm to present legislative recommendations related to data centers.

Karen Lewis Young formed an informal group of subject matter experts to develop State legislation regarding data center development. During the presentation, the Senator and the work group members will discuss the legislative policy proposals that have surfaced from research, conversations, and weekly meetings.

After the presentation there will be a Q&A with audience members. You can also submit questions on the RSVP form provided below.

Event Details:
6:30 pm, Hood College, Hodson Auditorium, Rosenstock Hall, 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD.

Please RSVP at the link below, see you there!

Date: October 26, 2026 Event Location: Hood College, Hodson Auditorium, Rosenstock Hall, 401 Rosemont Ave Frederick Contact: [email protected]

10/14/2026

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Nature Forward are hosting the People Over Data Centers Maryland Action Summit on Saturday, November 7th in Baltimore, MD!

This is a one-day conference for inspiration, organizing tools, legal information, and networking opportunities in our shared fight to reform data center development.

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-8) will be a featured speaker, joining legendary writer Bill McKibben and other advocates, legislators, and thought leaders appearing virtually or in person at Maryland's first statewide conference focused on the future of data centers in our region and beyond.

Sign up for the summit at the link below!

People Over Data Centers! A Maryland conference on how to fight and win the statewide battle to protect our communities from dirty and dangerous data centers.

09/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who came to visit our booth at In the Streets this past weekend! 🌳

09/15/2026

From the Frederick News Post: Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced Monday she has rejected a proposed $110 million community benefits agreement with a data center developer and has extended a moratorium on new data center development until July.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a public comment!

Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced Monday she has rejected a proposed $110 million community benefits agreement with a data center developer and has extended a moratorium on new data

09/07/2026

County Executive Jessica Fitzwater recently announced a development rights and responsibilities agreement with the Adamstown data center developer Catellus Real Estate Development. Catellus has agreed to provide over $110 million in community benefits and to reduce its planned development of the former Eastalco campus by nearly 20%.

According to the Sugarloaf Alliance, if enacted the agreement would prevent future county councils from reversing the data-center friendly policies enacted by the current county council under Fitzwater. Though it is billed as a community benefit agreement in the county’s releases, it is actually labeled as a development rights and responsibilities agreement, meaning these are not community benefits but conditioned on continued development.

According to the County Executive's office, this is not an executed agreement and the County Executive has not accepted the agreement. The full process includes Planning Commission review, a public hearing, and action by the County Council. They are currently collecting public input on the proposed agreement. You can read the agreement and submit your public comment at the link below. The public only has until this Thursday, September 10th, to submit public comments!

Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has announced an agreement that will provide 110 million in developer-funded benefits to the residents of Adamstown and Frederick County and require Catellus the master developer of the Frederick Digital Campus to take meaningful steps to make the campus....

09/04/2026

📢We're looking for help with replenishing these high demand items:
👉 Lip balm, Citronella wipes, Razors, Shampoo, Nail clippers 👈

Donate now through our Amazon Wishlist below, or if you're not excited about contributing to the Bezos hoard of wealth, you can also donate money to us directly. All donations using these links benefit our Mutual Aid Association, the driving force behind Frederick DSA's Health and Wellness Station (HAWS).

Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XGRMISZTVN2O?ref_=wl_share
Donate money: https://donate.stripe.com/bJecN4dgHfzI1CZ19R6EU08

For the past couple of years, HAWS has distributed free supplies to anyone who wants them, no questions asked. No forms or purity testing or proof of income, because we believe in a society where our basic needs are met without first having to trade labor for cash.

Come visit HAWS every Tuesday from 1-3 pm at the downtown Frederick Transit Center, 100 East St, Frederick, MD 21701.

08/06/2026

🌿 A recent survey conducted by the Maryland Sierra Club points to major progress in reducing the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and incentivizing shoppers to bring their own bag or not take one. The survey was conducted at major grocery store chains in Montgomery County before and after the launch of the “Bring Your Own Bag” law in January 2026. Single-use plastic carryout bags are harmful to wildlife and break down into microplastics that are harmful to the environment and human health.

🌿 The share of shoppers using plastic carryout bags dropped from 50% to 1% and the share of shoppers using a reusable bag or no bag jumped from 49% to 72%. However, the use of paper bags increased from 1% to 27%.

🌿 The bottom line - the combination of a ban on plastic carryout bags and a charge or tax on paper bags is an incentive to switch to reusables or not to take a bag at all. Simply raising the tax on plastic bags is much less impactful in getting shoppers to shift to reusable bags or no bag.

07/09/2026

Nature Fest is this Saturday, July 11 at Charlotte's Quest Nature Center in Manchester, Maryland!

Join Charlotte’s Quest for an afternoon and evening of family-friendly outdoor fun, including nature crafts, S.T.E.A.M. activities, guided hikes, “All About…” talks, food trucks, vendors, live music, stargazing, fireflies, and more.

06/19/2026

Yesterday a judge ruled that there can be no ballot referendum on the 2,615-acre data center zone near Adamstown. This came after the Frederick County Data Center Referendum Committee and hundreds of volunteers collected over 24,000 signatures from Frederick County voters to put the data center referendum on the November ballot.

In December 2025 County Council members Renee Knapp, Kavonte Duckett, Mason Carter, M.C. Keegan-Ayer, and Brad Young passed the expansion of the data center zoning overlay in Adamstown that was proposed by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater.

There can be no ballot referendum on the 2,615-acre data center zone near Adamstown, a judge ruled in Frederick County Circuit Court on Thursday afternoon.