Datacenter Developer Quantum Loophole Takes a ‘Master Plan Community’ Approach

The concept of a master plan community is nothing new in residential construction. Now it’s making its way into datacenter construction and operation.

As the National Association of Realtors says, “MPCs are a growing trend in new construction where developers aim to offer homebuyers nearly everything they might desire: grocery stores, restaurants, hiking and biking trails, a gym, swimming pool, golf course, and more—within walking distance or a short drive.”

Normally a datacenter developer does have to take this into account. You can’t have a working facility without network communications, power, and cooling (often water-based). But things get more complicated. Investors and users want to know how they’ll meet ESG expectations, because no one wants to find themselves on the wrong side of future regulations, laws, and disappointed and uncomfortable large sources of money.

Quantum Loophole has picked up on the concept of more that provides an interesting approach to marketing but also to the realities of datacenters at a time when large-scale AI applications are driving up power needs and generating more greenhouse gases.

The community — campus in normal parlance — is more than 2,100 acres, which includes a 600-acre nature reserve. A claimed 1 million trees will, the company says, create a carbon-negative industrial development.

The company says it has been working with professors and students at the University of Maryland, the Globe Tree Initiative (GTI), and the local community.

“The plantings feature all-native species selected to optimize carbon capture and enhance biodiversity,” they wrote in a press release. “The Nature Reserve expands on the company’s Bees and Trees initiative with the local Frederick County Beekeepers and students serving as caretakers of hives within the Nature Reserve. Maryland is home to over 400 species of pollinators which are vital for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health.”

“The nature reserve is a vital differentiator of our master planned data center communities,” said Scott Noteboom, co-founder and chief technology officer at Quantum Loophole, in prepared remarks. “By integrating our own human innovations with those of nature herself, we’re able to help industry become part of nature, versus counter to nature. By doing so, we hope to set an example not just for data center developers, but to help serve as a blueprint for any industrial development in the world.”

The carbon capture is a two-part strategy. The first is to use site selection with a “diverse high criticality power infrastructure” as well as “renewable primary and backup energy supply chains.” The second part involves using “the 600-acre Nature Reserve to capture all carbon emitted onsite operationally.”

It’s an interesting approach and one that might help alleviate negative attention from energy consumption.