Palm Beach County commissioners voted Tuesday, July 7, to pursue a 12-month moratorium on data centers less than a week before they will determine the fate of a controversial data center proposed for the Loxahatchee area.
The moratorium, however, will not impact Project Tango, the 1-million square foot hyperscale data center that PBA Holdings is looking to build near the Arden residential development and Saddle View Elementary School. A public hearing on that bid is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.
There is no current statewide moratorium on data centers in Florida. But there has been a wave of local moratoriums and temporary bans adopted or considered by counties and cities across the state as concerns grow over electricity demand, water use, noise, and land-use impacts. Nassau, Clay, Hernando, Citrus and Lake counties are among those that have approved or advanced moratoriums to freeze data-center applications while studying impacts.
Why would Project Tango be exempt from moratorium?
Palm Beach County Attorney David Ottey explained that since the Project Tango application was filed months ago, the moratorium cannot be used to deny consideration next week. The moratorium would apply only to new applications. Commissioners voted 5-2 to instruct county planners to develop a moratorium ordinance that is expected to be brought before the commission within two months.
While that is being done, staff will not consider any data center applications. And the ordinance itself is expected to impose a one-year moratorium. The moratorium could not be extended after it expires but, presumably, the data center ordinance would contain safeguards to limit negative impacts.
County Mayor Sara Baxter called for the moratorium, saying residents have overwhelmingly demanded one. She said the pause will allow staff to better understand the impacts of a data center and prepare rules for them to mitigate adverse impacts.
Commissioner Maria Sachs, who voted against the measure, said it was unfair and inappropriate to take up such an important issue without placing it on the agenda. Baxter made the motion after the commission heard public comments, which it does once a month.
“Suppose Project Tango or someone else wants to comment on this,” Sachs said. “They should have that opportunity.”
Sachs and Joel Flores urged that the moratorium vote take place after the public hearing on Project Tango, adding there is very little likelihood that a data center application would be submitted within the next six days.
Residents voiced opposition to data center
A key panel, the county’s Zoning Commission, recommended earlier this month that the bid to build Project Tango be rejected, noting it is too close to Arden and the elementary school.
County planners have said PBA Holdings substantially revised its December filing, reducing the proposed data center buildings from 1.3 million square feet to 1 million square feet and cutting the project’s overall size by about 97,000 square feet.
The PBA Holdings’ 127-acre parcel is on the north side of Southern Boulevard, west of the L-8 Canal and about 3.4 miles west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road.
Despite the revisions, scores of residents testified against Project Tango at the Zoning Commission meeting. Many are expected to voice their opposition again at next week’s public hearing before county commissioners.
They argued that Project Tango poses serious risks to public health, school and community safety, environmental protection, and local finances.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: County to put a pause on data centers, but it won’t halt Project Tango
Reporting by Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
