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Nassau County commissioners advanced a first-reading moratorium on data centers after residents packed a meeting, warning about water, power, and infrastructure costs. Final public hearing and vote is June 8.
‘Pass the moratorium’: Nassau residents press leaders to hit pause on data center s before plans arrive Read full article: ‘Pass the moratorium’: Nassau residents press leaders to hit pause on data center s before plans arriveHis competitive swimming career may have ended, but his athleticism continues with 2nd IRONMAN triathlon‘I would have been dead’: Woman pinned under truck that plowed through Palatka block party thankful to be alive Read full article: ‘I would have been dead’: Woman pinned under truck that plowed through Palatka block party thankful to be alive‘Destroyed our whole family’: Brother of man fatally shot by deputy in Clay County, NAACP call for answers Read full article: ‘Destroyed our whole family’: Brother of man fatally shot by deputy in Clay County, NAACP call for answers– Nassau County commissioners are considering a proposed moratorium on “ data center facilities.
” On Monday, residents urged leaders to pause any potential projects and study the impacts on water, power systems and the environment. The measure passed on first reading and heads to a second public hearing and final vote on June 8, according to county officials. Residents packed the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners meeting and repeatedly asked commissioners to adopt the moratorium.
According to the proposed ordinance, the moratorium would temporarily stop the county from accepting, reviewing, processing or approving applications tied to data center facilities in Nassau County. The ordinance describes a “data center facility” as a building — or group of buildings — housing computer systems and related components used for remote storage, processing or distribution of large amounts of data. Examples listed in the ordinance include cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence computing, along with cloud storage and streaming services.
County Attorney Denise May told commissioners during the meeting that the moratorium is meant to buy time for planning and regulating. Commission Chair Alyson McCullough also emphasized to the public that the county is not currently reviewing a specific data center proposal.
‘We will be back’: Kingsland residents rally as city reconsiders data center rules, proposals withdrawn During public comment, residents raised concerns about who would bear the long-term costs if a large facility were built in the area — including infrastructure and utility demands. “Residents should not be left carrying long term infrastructure burden, utility costs and water resource strain or cleanup risks while private corporations make profit,” one speaker said.
Other residents focused on water and environmental concerns, especially given the county’s reliance on groundwater resources.
“Water resources are directly connected to public health, ecological health, economic vitality and quality of life,” another speaker told commissioners. “The best time to address the problem is before it becomes a problem,” another resident said.
The proposed ordinance said that during the moratorium period, county staff would conduct a review of potential impacts tied to data center facilities, including:Environmental considerations, including wetlands impacts, noise and lightingThe ordinance said the moratorium could last up to 12 months, or end sooner if the county adopts new regulations first. The proposal passed on first reading and goes to a second public hearing June 8, when commissioners are expected to take a final vote.
Chris Will has joined the News4JAX team as a weekend morning reporter, after graduating from the University of Florida in spring 2024. During his time in Gainesville, he covered a wide range of stories across the Sunshine State. His coverage of Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida earned a National Edward R. Murrow Award.
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